An 82-year-old Chatsworth woman was dragged into bushes, beaten and robbed of her handbag on Tuesday.
Sivan Subramodey, a spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Services, said the woman had been walking near Gravity Drive when she stopped to catch her breath.
While she was seated a man approached her and demanded her handbag. Subramodey was not sure if the man had taken out any weapons.
“According to the pensioner she was pulled into a small outcrop of bushes. She resisted because her meagre possessions were inside. The man kicked her and yanked at the bag which she held onto. He eventually overpowered the frail woman and took the handbag,” he said.
Subramodey said the woman could have passed out. He said she had been screaming for help for nearly 20 minutes. Nobody came to her assistance.
“The driver of a passing vehicle saw her lying on the floor. He called for medical assistance. No ambulances were available. When I assessed the woman her blood pressure and sugar level was high. She had abrasions to her body and was in pain. Her eye was swollen. She could have had a fractured arm. I transported her to R.K.Khan Hospital for treatment,” Subramodey said.