Heroes relive fire
Gwala shares powersaw horror
TRIATHLON star Mhlengi Gwala’s attackers spoke a language he did not understand when they laid into him with a powersaw.
“It was a funny language. I didn’t hear the words. They were not speaking isiZulu,” he told The Independent on Saturday from his bed at Durban’s Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital, not far from where the extraordinarily brutal assault took place, near the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus.
He said it was an African language. “I didn’t understand (them) … but I am still confused.”
Although he did not recall much about their words, he certainly remembered their actions.
“They cut me and then the one who was cutting stopped and then he went to look (at something).
“I don’t know what he was checking. But then he came back and said (to the others) – let’s go – and then they ran away.”
Cut to the bone, Gwala lay on the roadside in agony but not having been robbed of any possessions. It was around 3am on Tuesday when he was attacked in Rick Turner Road while on his way to meet fellow cyclist and best friend Sandile Shange down the hill at King Edward Hospital. The two are triathlon athletes and also work together as lifeguards.
Once abandoned by his attackers, he reached for his phone.
“I tried to phone the police, or Sandile.”
When the police failed to respond, Gwala decided it would be up to himself to take the next step towards getting help.
“The police didn’t respond. Then I decided that I had to crawl with this one leg to the road.
“Some security guards (from Fidelity) stopped their cars and I told the guy – take me to hospital.
“They took me straight to Albert Luthuli Hospital.”
He was then transferred to Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital where he underwent surgery.
Gwala said from his bed that he was still in pain but improving.
Police spokeswoman, Captain Nqobile Gwala, said investigations into the incident were taking place and that she could not divulge any details because they were at a sensitive stage.
However, she appealed to anyone with information to report it to any police station or contact the police’s Crimestop number 0860 10111.
At the time of going to press Netcare was unable to offer comment on Gwala’s latest medical condition.
By last night, fundraisers from around the world had raised more than R635 000 to help Gwala. Donations ranged from R20 to R5 000.
In addition to a visit from Sports and Recreation Minister Thokozile Xasa, Gwala had a stream of friends and family popping in to his private ward with a view overlooking Durban harbour.
Among them were his sister Snengosi Gwala and fellow triathlon athletes brothers Raymond and Hlelani Radebe and Smiso Dlamini.
“We’ll be supporting him,” said Raymond.
DURBAN was this week the scene of an outrageous crime which caused pain, fury, shock, generosity, prayers and kindness. Most widespread, though, was bafflement.
As Mhlengi Gwala lies in a hospital bed after hours of surgery, everyone wants to know what could drive three men to take a powersaw to another man’s legs and try to cut them off.
No matter who the victim is in such a case, this attack would be brutal, callous and barbaric. It has a bigger human impact for Gwala.
Having overcome a young life as a drug addict and all the woes that come with that lifestyle, the 26-year-old took to the roads in South Africa and abroad to build a new life as an up-and-coming triathlon star. He also became a lifeguard on South Beach, another step to a life better lived.
Gwala was cycling from his Chesterville home early on Tuesday morning to meet a friend for training. Three men ambushed him, dragged him off his bicycle, and started sawing through one of his legs with a powersaw.
When they hit the bone, the butchery slowed because of an apparent problem with the saw. These perpetrators were not fazed; they merely turned to Gwala’s other leg.
It is thought the lights of a passing car caused the men to flee, leaving Gwala to drag himself towards getting help.
Nothing valuable – not his bicycle, nor his cellphone nor watch – was taken, posing the biggest question: why? And what kind of people can cause this much suffering, close up and slowly?
There are many calls for justice for too many victims of terrible crimes in our province and our country. We have a new minister of police in Bheki Cele. Our citizens need protection from brutes like this, and we need it yesterday. Minister Cele, please step up and deliver.
To Mhlengi Gwala: we wish you a full and speedy recovery.
And that the funds, care and support from people all around the world restore at least some of your faith in humanity.