Police have increased patrols on the popular hiking trails in the Wilderness area, in the Western Cape, following an attack on a Somerset West couple recently.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie told News24 on Sunday that the couple were attacked on January 20, but no arrests had yet been made.
The Weekend Argus on Sunday reported that the Somerset West couple managed to turn things around during the scuffle.
One of the victims, Alistair Hill, 41, had been trained in martial arts and managed to wrestle the panga from one of the attackers.
He then used it to defend himself and fellow hiker, Carla Germishuys, 26, it was reported.
Pojie said various law enforcement agencies, including the municipality, were constantly patrolling the hiking trails.
He said these patrols included a neighbourhood watch, in a bid to keep hikers safe.
He said while they had not arrested the couple’s attackers, they had made a breakthrough in arresting a number of suspects they believed were responsible for various crimes along the hiking trail before the latest attack.
Some were arrested with "dangerous weapons", he said.
"We will continue to pursue the investigation," Pojie said.
The Weekend Argus reported that the two were ambushed while walking along the old railway tracks, between Wilderness and Victoria Bay.
They were approached by two men, and one had a panga concealed under a jacket.
According to the report, Hill said the man with the panga swung it at him at least three times.
"Luckily I’ve got training in knives, pangas and firearms. I disarmed the guy with the panga. I held the panga," he is quoted as saying.
Source: News24
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 