Graphic warning: The article below contains graphic details and may be disturbing or triggering for some individuals. Reader discretion is advised.
Disturbing CCTV footage of a woman being brutally assaulted at a Pietermaritzburg tavern has sparked widespread public outrage and renewed calls for justice.
The incident occurred at a tavern in Imbali on December 28.
Video footage circulating widely on social media shows two men repeatedly punching and kicking the woman, who has not yet been identified, as she lies on the ground unable to defend herself. The assault appears to continue for several minutes and unfolds in full view of other patrons, many of whom flee in fear as the violence escalates.
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At one point in the footage, a man attempts to intervene, but he too is attacked, with the assailants turning on him and subjecting him to a further beating.
The woman was later admitted to a Pietermaritzburg hospital for medical treatment. When contacted by The Witness, the owner of the tavern declined to comment on the incident.
The video has drawn strong condemnation from members of the public, with social media users describing the assault as senseless and demanding swift action against those responsible. The incident has also reignited debate around safety at taverns, which are intended to be social spaces but have increasingly been linked to violent incidents.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza confirmed that a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm has been opened.
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“No arrests have been made at this stage. The motive behind the assault remains unclear, but investigations are ongoing. Police are searching for the men seen in the CCTV footage,” he said.
Read The Witness on Monday, January 5, for more on this story and other developments.