[imagesource:bulungula.co.za]

A small village along the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast was shaken up in August when two locals were brutally attacked by four armed men.

While Dave Martin and his wife, Réjane Woodroffe are glad to be alive after being violently assaulted at their residence, where tourists go to enjoy the post-card surroundings, the community have been banding together to take a stand against these criminals.

In the Sunday 15 September episode of Carte Blanche, the journalists reveal this darker side of the Wild Coast, once a serene paradise now plagued by violence. The program shines a spotlight on the tragic decline of the Wild Coast, where a group of well-meaning folks arrived intending to uplift and transform the local community.

But a recent spate of violence has shattered their dreams, leaving them caught in a web of fear and uncertainty.

While the area deals with petty crimes from time to time, this incident was the most violent in years, leaving everyone reeling.

Dave and Réjane, the co-founders of the Bulungula Incubator, were attacked by four armed men who broke into their home in Nqileni Village on August 14, per a statement from the Bulungula Incubator Board of Directors released to inform the public that they were safe after the armed robbery.

“Four armed men ambushed Dave as he returned home from work. The intruders ransacked their residence and assaulted Dave and Réjane before proceeding to the Bulungula Incubator offices, where our night guard, Sonwabile Timo Futu, was also tied up as the men robbed the BI main office. The assailants fled the village with Dave and Réjane in a BI vehicle,” the statement read.

Image: Dave Martin and Réjane Woodroffe

“Sonwabile managed to escape and raise the alarm, and the local community responded rapidly and decisively, quickly blocking roads and coordinating a search. Thanks to the swift actions of the community, the attackers were forced to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot.”

At this point, Dave and Réjane were taken to the local hospital where they were treated for their injuries, which included bruises and wounds with Dave suffering from broken ribs and a punctured lung. Sonwabile was thankfully unhurt.

“This incident, while distressing, is an unusual occurrence in what is typically a peaceful and beautiful part of the country. The perpetrators appear to be a single group involved in a few similar incidents in the area. Thanks to the resilience and quick action of the community, the situation was resolved safely.”

The statement noted that while the board recognises that healing from this experience will take time, they are committed to keeping their projects running smoothly and addressing the systemic injustices that contribute to criminal behaviour of this nature.

It’s a story of courage, fear and survival… The Wild Coast, where beauty meets brutality. With police assistance hours away, villagers here have been left to defend themselves. That’s #CarteBlanche tonight at 7pm on @MNet channel 101. pic.twitter.com/ygp8T0PunD

— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) September 15, 2024

At least the community seems bonded and strong enough to thwart the brutality and keep the beauty going.

[source:carteblanche]