Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A young woman was lucky to escape unscathed after a panga-wielding man attempted to rob her while out jogging on 17 January.
Cooperation between various members of the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) also led to the suspect’s arrest following the incident.
PBCPA operations head Otto Olivier said the young victim, an exchange student, had gone for a run from the African Array Lodge in Ladywood at dusk when a man armed with a panga suddenly appeared from nearby bushes.
“He threatened the woman and demanded money.
"She told him he could have whatever he wanted, but that she did not have money. She offered him her cellphone, but he was not interested in it,” Olivier said.
The suspect then shoved the woman out of the way and fled, according to Olivier.
“The victim ran to the nearest house, which was just a few hundred metres from where the incident took place, to raise the alarm,” he added.
PBCPA members, including Oliver and his dog Blackie, responded and were on the scene within minutes.
Olivier said they cordoned the area off and went searching for the suspect. Blackie found the suspect’s scent and they followed it.
“We followed his tracks for about 2km to the N2.”
In the meantime, said Olivier, the suspect had taken shelter in a ditch near the road and when he noticed that they were closing in, he decided to make a run for it.
Olivier said that when Tubby Will from Smhart Alarms, who saw the suspect trying to flee, gave chase the suspect allegedly tried to swing the panga at him, but Will managed to disarm and apprehend him.
The suspect was taken into police custody.
Olivier said PBCPA counsellors provided support to the victim who was traumatised by the incident.
“Although she was very shaken up about what had happened, she was not injured,” Olivier said.
Police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse confirmed the incident and said Kwanokuthula police are investigating a case of assault and intimidation.
Read a previous article: Young jogger confronted with a panga
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