Irene (G 8)

Name: Irene

http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=3531&fArticleId=vn20090123031216239C747131

Cyclist attacks: crack SAPS squad set up
23 January 2009, 10:05
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A specialised task team, put together to track down and catch a gang of armed robbers terrorising cyclists in Pretoria, is hot on the heels of the robbers.

The attacks, which occurred near Irene over the past three weeks, have left Pretoria mother, Mathilda Barnard, 39, fighting for her life in Unitas Hospital after her throat was slashed.

The latest attack occurred on Wednesday evening when a cyclist cycling along a footpath near the train track leading to the Irene railway station, was beaten with a plank before he was hit over the head with a bottle.

It is believed to have occurred metres away from where the attack on Barnard and fellow cyclist, Andries Kingsley, occurred on Saturday.

Wednesday's attack was the fifth to take place in the past three weeks.

All of those attacked were mountain bikers.

In only one of the attacks was a bike taken. In other cases robbers took cellphones, money and hydration packs.

Barnard, who is in an induced coma, was stabbed in the neck with a garden shears two weeks ago.

The blade severed her artery, penetrating her vertebrae and then touching her spinal cord.

It is not known whether her spine was damaged.

Barnard was found by her fiance Grant Williams, who had gone to look for her when she failed to arrive to meet his father, John, for their evening cycle ride.

John Williams said the attack was nothing more than a brutal, barbaric and malicious attack carried out by people who had no regard for human life.

He said the victims were first sprayed with pepper spray before they were either held up at gunpoint, with knives or beaten with rocks, bottles and planks.

Lyttelton police station commissioner Director Andre Wiese said the task team set up to investigate the attacks was close to making arrests.

"We are hot on the heels of these guys and will be making arrests soon," he said, adding that they had just missed arresting the suspects on Wednesday night.

He said most of the attacks were carried out by two people and had taken place in and around the fields near Irene station and railway lines during early morning or evening.

Derek Palmer, Pretoria Mountain Bike Club chairperson, said the attacks were cause for major concern.

He urged people to cycle in pairs and to inform others what route they were taking.


•This article was originally published on page 3 of The Pretoria News on January 23, 2009

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Other interesting info:
salbu.co.za/dkoa/ECO_070907_EIA_DraftForPublicReview_2.pdf

irene village web site
www.irenevillage.com

Where to stay:

Birding in the area:

http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/gauteng/detail.php?id=267

Address: Jan Smuts Avenue, Irene, Gauteng.
Telephone: +27 (0)12 667-1176
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 09h30 to 16h30; Weekends and public holidays from 09h30 to 17h00.


Kingfisher seen on the SmutsTrailSmuts' Trail is a three-kilometre walk through the pristine grasslands surrounding the Smuts House Museum in Irene. The grasslands are a birdwatcher’s dream and ornithologists have identified no fewer than 300 bird species within a seven-kilometre radius of the nearby Irene railway station.

Special bird-watching outings led by professionals are available to visitors. Species identified in the area include three varieties of starling and four varieties of owl. The banks of the Hennops River are home to Paradise Fly Catchers; Comorants; Darters; four varieties of Kingfisher, as well as Warblers, Hamerkops, Bishop Birds and the Sakabula Widow-bird. Four varieties of migratory cuckoos frequent the grassland and birds of prey in the area include Wahlberg’s Eagle; the Black Sparrowhawk; the Lanner Falcon, Buzzards, the Banded Harrier Hawk; the Little-banded Goshawk, and the Black-shouldered Kite. Garden birds include the Waxbill, Mousebird, Sparrow, Crested and Black-collared Barbet, Cape Robin, Bokmakierie …