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Cyclist in South Africa stabs and kills men he says tried to steal his bike

Potential murder charges following incident near popular mountain bike park on Sunday

A cyclist in South Africa may face murder charges after stabbing and killing two men he says tried to steal his bike as he headed to a popular mountain bike park.

The incident, last Sunday 28 August, took place near the Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park, with the bike rider reporting what had happened to police, telling them he had been ambushed by the men, reports Highwaymail.co.za.

Jethro Nyandeni, manager of the facility which is popular with local mountain bikers and BMX riders, said: “I was told that one of our riders was on his way to the park when he was attacked by two men at the bridge just a few kilometres from Giba Gorge.

“The cyclist took out a knife and stabbed the two men. One died on the scene and from what I have gathered, the second man has died at the hospital,” he added.

Travis Goveia of the Giba Cycling Club said its members were advised to take a different route to the mountain bike park than the one the fatal incident took place on.

“This is not the first time something like this has happened on that road,” he told IOL.co.za.

“What did surprise, though, was how it went down and somebody dying.”

Chris Botha of the Netcare 911 emergency service said: “Netcare 911 paramedics, their rescue unit and the Police Search and Rescue arrived at the scene and had to hike down a steep slope for about five hundred metres before they got to the first man who had died on scene.

“The team hiked another 500m meters along a path and found another man lying near a river also with a stab wound. The man was stabilised at the scene, placed on a ventilator and airlifted to the ambulance.

“He was then taken to a hospital in Chatsworth under the care of a Netcare 911 emergency care practitioner.”

The man, who was also placed under police guard, died from his injuries there on Monday, it was subsequently confirmed.

Police are investigating the incident as a potential case of murder.

Lone cyclists in South Africa are regularly targeted by thieves, and national cycling campaign group the Pedal Power Association regularly provides safety advice.

In 2014, following another incident in Kwazulu-Natal, the organisation’s chairman, Steven Hayward, said: “A typical assault on a cyclist is either before sunrise and after sunset or when cyclists are isolated and very few other people are in the immediate area.

“Thugs will generally also choose a spot that provides limited escape options, where they can block your way and push your off your cycle.”

He added: “Cycling, particularly at speed, can feel less exposed but unfortunately it is very easy for criminals to push you off your bike or grab you as to try to ride past or away.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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4 comments

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Christopher TR1 | 7 years ago
1 like

Sounds like they got what they deserved. Give the guy a medal. Better still, give him a road bike!

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Dr_Lex | 7 years ago
1 like

Come now, Mr Python. You've been here long enough to know that *any* news story with the word bicycle within is considered relevant for reposting here, irrespective of the importance of the object to the article.

Avatar
WillRod replied to Dr_Lex | 7 years ago
0 likes

Dr_Lex wrote:

Come now, Mr Python. You've been here long enough to know that *any* news story with the word bicycle within is considered relevant for reposting here, irrespective of the importance of the object to the article.

 

Well, it is the news section of a cycling website. I would be shocked to find news stories about elephants, but funnily enough, bicycle related articles kinda fit.

 

Anyway, back on topic, it seems that this is yet another indication of the poverty of many South Africans especially,in the black communities. From what I have heard from, friends and colleagues, SA is still worth avoiding unless you stay in the hotel complexes and well policed areas. 

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
1 like

Murder's a funny concept over there. Defend yourself with a knife when getting mugged - murder. Shoot up your girlfriend in the bathroom - home defence. 

 

 

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