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Cop 'just stood and watched'
07/02/2007 10:37 - (SA)
Virginia Keppler, Beeld
Pretoria - A man from Villieria in Pretoria was stabbed during a robbery at about 10:30 on Tuesday, while a police captain allegedly stood watching the attack.
Noel "Neil" Render, 56, said only after the men had stabbed and robbed him of R2 000, did the police captain approach him.
Render was stabbed twice in the right thumb and once in the palm of his right hand.
"I was returning from the Tshwane metro council's offices where I had wanted to pay my electricity. There was a problem and they wanted my identity document and other documents before I could pay."
Render returned to his car at the corner of Pretorius and Du Toit Street in Pretoria's city centre.
"I got into my car and opened the window a bit. As I wanted to drive away, three men approached and took in position next to my car. They attacked me. "
'He just stood there'
"The one in the centre started stabbing me."
"I saw the blade, but never saw the type of knife he was using."
Render said he warded off the blows with his hands to prevent them from stabbing him in the chest.
"I started hooting to alert the policeman, who was standing some distance away at the corner, to come and help me, but he just stood there."
"An obese man also called him to come and help, but the policeman did nothing. He came over only after the men had fled with my money."
Render said the policeman was a captain as he had three stars on his shoulders. "I asked him why he didn't come to help me. He said he was on his way to his office and would return with his colleagues."
Render reported the incident at the Moot police station. "They didn't want to write down the bit about the captain, so I refused to sign it. Only after they had added that information, I signed my statement."
Render said he was disappointed in the policeman. "The police are supposed to protect us, but they only watch as one is attacked."
Police spokesperson inspector Paul Ramaloko said the police were investigating the incident.
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