A Woodlands family remains traumatised after a brutal attack inside their Woodlands home in November, in which a pastor’s wife (47), was beaten with a baton and stomped on, and her son (23), narrowly escaped being stabbed.
Now, as Bronwyn Naicker struggles to walk, attends hospital for treatment, and wears a moon boot, the trio of alleged attackers are out on bail and made their third appearance in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court this week.
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Her husband, pastor Kevin Naicker, said he had dropped Bronwyn and their son, Diego, at home after church before heading to another service when three males, aged 16, 18 and 29, arrived at the family home pretending to be friends of his son.
Believing the alleged attackers were known to her son, Naicker’s wife allowed them into the yard and then into the house.
Moments later, she realised something was wrong.
Our home is always open to people because of the church and the work we do, so that’s why my wife didn’t think twice about letting them in.
Once in the home, one of them started swearing at her and calling her names, said Naicker.
“When she asked what was happening, the 29-year-old dragged her out of the house and assaulted her with a baton,” Naicker alleged.
He said the man allegedly struck his wife on the head, jumped on her and repeatedly stomped on her body, particularly her right leg.
She was then thrown against a wall, where the assault continued.
“At that point she was bleeding from her head and losing consciousness,” he said.
At the same time, the two younger men allegedly attacked the couple’s son, attempting to stab him.
He sustained knife marks on his body, but the blade did not penetrate.
According to Naicker, they believe the assault was a result of a dispute between their son and the 16-year-old.
Neighbours, alerted by the commotion, rushed to the home and intervened.
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“Thank God they came,” Naicker said.
Naicker was called out of the church service he was attending and rushed home to find paramedics treating his wife, who had sustained severe lacerations to her head and a serious leg injury.
His son was also treated for injuries.
The suspects fled in their vehicle to a house not far from the Naickers’ home.
Community members followed them, and adults at the house reportedly locked the suspects inside until police arrived.
Naicker said the 29-year-old suspect allegedly threatened to return and “spray the house with bullets”.
Police arrived on the scene, took statements and collected evidence, including the weapon allegedly used in the attack.
All three suspects were arrested and taken to Mountain Rise police station.
“They could have been murdered right here in our home,” Naicker said.
Bronwyn Naicker is still struggling to walk.
She still has to visit the hospital to treat her leg and has to wear a moon boot.
The suspects appeared in court on November 3 and December 4, where they were granted bail at their first appearance, a decision Naicker said shocked and deeply distressed the family.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Captain Ntathu Ndlovu confirmed that the three suspects appeared in court again on Tuesday.
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“The suspects, aged between 16 and 29 years old, are facing charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm,” Ndlovu said.
She confirmed that the 47-year-old woman suffered head lacerations and a broken leg during the attack.
The matter was adjourned to February 10.