*Popular Wild Coast couple brutally beaten and robbed*

(005320.38-:E-003569.93:N-HO:R-SU:C-30:V)   

*Popular Wild Coast couple brutally beaten and robbed*
By LULAMILE FENI – 19 August 2024
Wild Coast community developers, David Martin and his wife, who are co-founders of Bulungula Incubatior and Bulungula Community Lodge at Mthatha Mouth near Elliotdale, were attacked, pistol-whipped, kidnapped and robbed at their Nqileni home. Computers at the Bulungula Incubator were also stolen.

A popular couple from the Wild Coast, who spent decades helping develop the Xhorha Mouth community near Elliotdale, was brutally attacked by gun-wielding thugs at their sanctuary.
Dave Martin and his wife, Rejane Woodroffe, founders of the Bulungula Incubator NGO, Bulungula Community Lodge and Bulungula College, were pistol-whipped and beaten with beer bottles during the attack at Nqileni village in Xhorha Mouth on Wednesday night.
Martin suffered three broken ribs and injuries to his head. He received stitches on the head and face.
His wife also sustained head and face injuries.
The close-knit community and greater Mbhashe area are furious and have vowed to track down the culprits.
The couple was admitted to the Madwaleni Hospital in Elliotdale.
After being discharged on Friday, they rushed to attend the funeral of their friend and former Jalamba traditional council acting head, Nkosikazi No-Office Gwebindlala, with whom they had worked for almost 20 years.
Mourners including Gwebindlala’s son Nkosi Vuyani Gwebindlala, the reigning traditional leader, his wife Nosintu, Mbhashe council speaker Babalwa Majavu, ward councillor Phumzile Msarho, education MEC Fundile Gade, Contralesa provincial chair Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana and Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders deputy chair Nkosi Gwazinamba Matanzima, condemned the attack.
The couple believed the assailants were not from Xhorha Mouth.
They told the mourners of their ordeal.
“It was on Wednesday night at about 7.30pm when I got home.
“As I was about to get out of the car, four armed tsotsis came to me running, pointing guns,” Martin said.
“They grabbed me and took me inside the house where my wife was. They beat me in the face with the gun.
“They demanded money. Luckily, I had R1,000 to buy a sheep for the funeral.
“They continued beating us. They tied us tightly with a rope.”
He said they punched, kicked and beat him with a gun.
Martin said the attackers walked them to the Bulungula Incubator NGO office, where they stole eight laptops.
“They took one of our NGO’s cars with us in it. They drove off in the direction of Zithulele.
“But close to Mpame Road, they stopped the cars and ran off … when they saw some cars giving chase after an alarm was raised and the community rushed to our rescue.”
Woodroffe, who was hit on the head with a beer bottle, said the incident was scary.
“I think they just wanted money,” she said.
Gwebindlala said villagers put bread on the table because of the couple.
“Their contribution to the community for 21 years is massive, unmeasurable.
“We will do everything within the ambit of the law to protect Dave and his wife. We will track down these criminals,” he vowed.
Neighbour Ntsikelelo Mbangasini said the community was embarking on a manhunt.
Martin said they would continue with their work at Xhorha Mouth and continue staying at Nqileni.
This comes two months after another family was assaulted and robbed on the Wild Coast.
Johann Stradler and his wife, Petra, who own Mdumbi Backpackers in Ngqeleni in partnership with the community, were attacked on June 9.
Eastern Cape Chamber of Business secretary-general Dr Andile Nontso expressed shock at the Mthatha Mouth attack.
“Attacks on tourism product owners in the Wild Coast area scare tourists away and that affects job creation in the district … we request communities to protect tourists.
“We ask the SAPS to protect tourists in this district where youth unemployment is up to 50%,” Nontso said.
The chamber estimated losses of more than R10m a year due to crime and cancellations of bookings.
In February, Bulungula Education programme manager Lindiwe Tukanie was attacked by two gunmen who fled in her Toyota Hilux double cab and stole her laptop.
“The attacks are chasing away our investors, threatening the community,” Majavu said.
The incident happened eight months after a popular Elliotdale shop owner, Pete Venter, 52, was killed by gunmen in November.
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