Police officer in hospital after attack

AN EAST London policewoman is fighting for her life at one of the local private hospitals after being viciously attacked, allegedly by her ex-husband.

The 30-year-old crime intelligence officer was attacked at her communal Quigney home on Sunday night.

Police said her 37-year-old ex-husband has been arrested and is facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The man, a school teacher in Butterworth, is due to appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court today. Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mtati Tana said the motive of the attack was still unclear.

He said the suspect was arrested on Monday afternoon in East London. The policewoman was rushed to St Dominics Hospital in Southernwood that evening and later transferred to Life Hospital where she underwent surgery.

Kanana Tupa, a caretaker at the communal house in Quigney, said the incident happened at 9pm.

He claimed during the fight the man allegedly strangled the woman and bit off her lower lip.

“I was in my room and I heard the sound of furniture moving in the next room. Suddenly I heard her scream: ‘Please help, he is killing me’ and I rushed to the room but it was locked,” Tupa said.

Tupa said he found the man was strangling her and she was not moving. Tana said investigations were still continuing.