Good Samaritan saves rape victim

Radius Masukume receives medical treatment after he was injured while saving a rape victim. Picture: Facebook

A man who was stabbed while trying to stop a rape in Table View has been hailed a hero.

The story of how Radius Masukume, 49, stopped the attack has gone viral on social media.

Mr Masukume lives in an informal settlement just outside Melkbosstrand. He says he did what he thought anyone would do in that situation.

He was walking in Gie Road, on Thursday October 10, at 5pm, when he heard a woman screaming from a nearby field.

“I heard the scream and decided to go check it out. I saw one man standing and another on top of a woman.

“I shouted while running towards them telling them to stop. They were startled, but both turned their focus to me and began chasing me.

“I ran towards the street away from them, but a third guy, who I hadn’t seen, caught me and began stabbing me,” said Mr Masukume.

He said that he fought the man off but not before being stabbed four times including twice in the face.

After fighting off his assailant, Mr Masukume ran into Gie Road where, by chance, he saw a police van. But by this time the three assailants had fled.

Mr Masukume lost a tooth and he needed 20 stitches.

Table View SAPS spokeswoman Captain Adriana Chandler, said the officers had called for medical attention for both Mr Masukume and the woman.

The assailants are still at large and Captain Chandler urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Table View station commander Colonel Lindiwe Dyantyi said she admired Mr Masukume’s bravery and his willingness to come to the woman’s rescue.

Community medic Chloe Nuelle said the 45-year-old woman had been bleeding and traumatised.

“She was also stabbed in the back and in her arm, but I spoke to her, just trying to keep her calm and letting her know that she was now safe. She told me she was married and has children and didn’t know how she would break this news to her family,” said Ms Nuelle.

The female victim told Ms Nuelle she had been crossing the field to get to the taxi rank when she had been attacked.

Ms Nuelle said Mr Masukume had been taken to Dunoon Clinic and the female victim had taken to Victoria Hospital in Wynberg, where there is a forensic unit.

Ms Nuelle said that she had stayed in contact with the woman who, she said, was depressed and angry.

“She is doing trauma counselling and once she is feeling better, I hope her and Radius could meet again,” said Ms Nuelle.

Mr Masukume said he had children of his own and he couldn’t imagine something like this happening to one of them.

“We need to protect our women and children.

“I know that I put myself in danger, but what would have happened to the lady if I hadn’t? We need to stand together and fight this violence,” he said.

A crowdfunding page was started for Mr Masukume and his family and by the time this issue went to print, R46 770 had been raised.