Robbers wake up woman in bed

2009-07-05 14:28

Johannesburg - Two elderly women were assaulted during a robbery on their farm in Hilton near Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Sunday.

At 04:00 on Saturday morning, Julia Braine, 62, awoke to find four men standing over her bed, two of them brandishing knives, said Senior Superintendent Harry Budhram in a statement.

They dragged Braine from her bed and demanded cash and firearms which she told them she didn't have. They then hit her in the face and dragged her outside where they continued beating her.

Two of the men went back into the house and Braine was able to run to a neighbour's home where she called the police.

A second woman in the house, Rosaline Posel, 73, was awoken by the commotion and found two robbers in the kitchen.

"The men demanded money from her, to which she also subsequently replied that she did not have any, resulting in the two men assaulting her on her face," said Budhram.

The four robbers then began looting the house. During this Posel escaped and hid inside the house.

Various electronic goods were stolen as well as Braine's handbag which contained R500 in cash as well as personal documents and bank cards.

Brain and Posel suffered injuries to their faces and received medical treatment.

Anyone with information about the attackers was asked to call Detective Constable Thobani Nxele on 033-845-6525 or 072-108-1738.

- SAPA