This familiar horror story underlines what white women living on their own can expect from black savages masquerading as gardeners.
Unisa criminologist Professor Anna van der Hoven, 64, was beaten, throttled and then punched while taking a cup of tea to a worker building a garden feature for her at her Lyttelton home on Wednesday.
Van der Hoven's alleged attacker was arrested shortly after a neighbour's domestic worker saw him fleeing his victim's Glover Avenue home.
It is believed the 28-year-old man, who began working on the water feature on Monday, was waiting behind a wall shortly after his employers left to fetch more building materials and struck Van der Hoven repeatedly over the back of the head and neck as she walked into her garden.
The man is then thought to have attempted to strangle her from behind before punching her in the face until she lost consciousness.
The attack on Van der Hoven, who lived alone with her three cats in Drummorgan security complex, has sparked outrage and shock among fellow academics, who have described her as a highly respected criminologist among the global academic community. As well as lecturing, Van der Hoven, until last year, served on the council of the Criminological and Victimological society of southern Africa.
Police describing the attack said it happened shortly after Van der Hoven arrived home. "As she was walking outside taking the labourer a cup of tea, he struck her over the back of the head before throttling her and then punching her in the face. He then grabbed her handbag, money and laptop computer before fleeing," said an officer.
He said Van der Hoven's neighbour's domestic worker was alerted to the attack when she heard screams for help. "When she ran outside she saw Van der Hoven lying in the garden and the man running out of the property.
"Fortunately the domestic worker was able to give us a detailed description of the man who was arrested in Lenchen Avenue," he said, adding that the laptop was recovered. The officer said they were investigating whether the suspect was linked to any other crimes.
A neighbour, who rushed to Van der Hoven's aid when the alarm was raised, described her as an extremely kind lady.
"I was terrified. When I saw her she was covered in blood. Her face was badly swollen and she was battling to speak. She was in shock and I just held her," she said. She said people in the complex were struggling to understand how something like this could happen, "especially to a person who had such a soft heart".
Unisa spokesperson Doreen Gough expressed her concern over the attack and said Van der Hoven was well respected.
Dr Christiaan Bezuidenhout, a senior lecturer at University of Pretoria's department of social work and criminology, said the attack showed that everyone, no matter who they were or their standing in life, was vulnerable to crime.
"This is a great shame. Anna gave so much to society in the way of her teachings and helping to change people's lives and was heavily involved in the assessment of criminals in a number of well publicised trials," he said.
Unisa forensic investigation lecturer, Dr Rudolph Zinn, a close contact of Van der Hoven, decried the attack and said it illustrated the violent nature of South Africa.
Unitas Hospital spokesperson Melisha Pather said Van der Hoven was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit where she was in a serious, but stable condition.
The suspect is due to appear in court soon.
1 Opinion(s):
This lady is my lecturer this year at UNISA and someone who is indeed very kind and knowledgeable in the field. Crime all over the world is escalating and yet the government does not recognise those of us who are passionate and learned in this subject. It is time that a proper board for criminology is established and that the government wakes up and utlizes people with knowledge.
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