Here’s the thing about planning: things never go accordingly. But unfortunelay for this couple, what was supposed to be romantic lost all hope when they were attacked by three men wielding butcher knives.

As Kyle Jackson got down on his knee to propose to his girlfriend, Hanna, on Coetzenburg mountain near Stellenbosch, the couple were subsequently ambushed and robbed of all their possessions.

It was the place the Stellenbosch University couple had kissed for the first time several years ago – and it had taken Kyle three months to convince Hanna to go to the mountain.

We joyfully walked hand in hand down to the dam, to the exact spot where we had our first kiss many years ago. On our way to the special spot we passed the males, dressed as students who were seemingly enjoying the view and taking pictures of the stadium.

One of the assailants held a knife to my throat and threatened to cut me. One man then demanded our belongings while another snatched Hanna’s handbag and a third stood guard.

Kyle said he waited for the moment to throw himself in front of Hanna if the men tried to hurt her, trying to shield Hanna as the men circled them.

Hanna felt shocked and paralysed, said Jackson, adding that she did not expect the incident to happen on a mountain where she often ran alone.

The police caught the three suspects and, on a happy note, Kyle plans to propose again on the same spot, but without “disruptions”.

[source: iol]