Man claims he was assaulted by pupils who mistook him for thief
What appears to have been a case of mistaken identity has left a Nelson Mandela Bay man with a bloodied and battered face after 13 school pupils allegedly pelted him with stones yesterday morning.
As Moegamat Natheer waited for an ambulance and the police to arrive at St Thomas Secondary School in Gelvandale, near where the incident took place, his face was still swollen and bloody.
Outside the office where Natheer waited for medical assistance, shocked pupils and teachers gathered around.
The pupils allegedly responsible for the brutal attack were questioned by staff in the school corridor.
“It was a misunderstanding,” the 30-year-old said.
“They thought I wanted to rob them, but I didn’t.
“I was on my way to work at my father’s security company when these schoolkids [allegedly] attacked me.
“I am in shock.” Natheer said he was experiencing a lot of pain. “My face hurts,” he said.
“My eyes are also swollen ... they hit me many times.
“The more I said stop, the more they hit me.
“I am not a thief, I was just walking to work and then they hit me with stones and rocks. “They had the wrong guy.” One of the stones used in the attack was still lying on the pavement, stained with blood.
Staff at the school then asked The Herald team to leave the premises.
Eastern Cape education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said they were aware of the attack.
“Twelve boys and a girl went to the mall to buy something,” Mtima said.
“They allege that on their way back, a man tried to mug them and they fought back with stones.
“The man was badly injured and the police were dispatched to the scene.
“The affected pupils’ parents were also called to the school so that we could get to the bottom of the matter.
“The department will also conduct its own investigation to deal with this internally.”
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said a case had not yet been reported.
“The docket might still be at the crime office, but we are following up with the station,” he said.