Stabbed for saying ‘No’
AGAUTENG businessman who jumped out of his car to stop a vagrant from washing his windscreen at a traffic light was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver.
Now Prin Naidoo, 37, has warned other motorists to stay in their vehicles to avoid a similar fate.
A video of Naidoo being stabbed at a busy intersection in Bruma has been doing the rounds on social media. The cellphone footage was taken by another motorist.
In his first media interview, Naidoo, a father of one, told POST he did not even realise he was injured.
He said he was on his way to work at around 9.30am on July 4 when he was asked by a man holding a bottle of water if his windscreen could be washed.
“I told him no, I did not want him to because my car is modified and I don’t even know what they have in those bottles. It could be anything like pool acid or even urine.”
Naidoo said the man swore at him, called him a derogatory term and continued to wash his windscreen.
“I jumped out of my car and had an altercation with him.”
Naidoo said in the next instant two other men approached him from behind.
“I tried to get back into my car, but they attacked me and began stabbing me on my head using a screwdriver.”
Naidoo said he continued to drive, and when he stopped at the next intersection, a beggar alerted him to the blood pouring from his head.
“He told me the hospital was a few blocks away. When I looked in the mirror I realised I was injured.”
Naidoo said he received 11 stitches.
He did not report the matter to the police.
“It is more traumatic to get the police. They just put you on hold,” he said.
After the incident he went on holiday for a week.
“When I got back and went on to Facebook I realised that the story had spread like wildfire because the video was loaded on Facebook.
“But my story is not an isolated one, there have been many incidents, it just hasn’t received any attention,” he said.
Naidoo said it was the duty of police to stop people from standing at traffic lights.
“Something needs to be done. Window washing is increasing all over in Johannesburg and there is no way to avoid it, because we use these roads on a daily basis.”
Naidoo said he had heard stories of people being sworn at or their cars being kicked at if they did not pay window washers.
“Some people are commenting on Facebook that they are making an honest living. How is this an honest living?”