08 Apr 2013

Police in Kasane are investigating a case in which a 21-year-old man was attacked by elephants on his way to work last week.

Station commander , Superintendent Silton Fidzani confirmed in an interview that three elephants attacked and injured the 21-year-old Unik Construction employee. The young man, he said, was walking with a colleague at around 0600 a.m on a narrow foot path in Plateau ward when he met his fate.

He explained that the victim’s colleague managed to run away to ask for assistance and consequently, the victim was rushed to Kasane Primary Hospital. Supt Fidzani warned residents who preferred shorter routes or unsafe foot paths that they were placing their lives at risk.

“For safety reasons, the public should use safer routes such as the main road ,” he said. He also extended his warning to those who exercised by the Plateau slope as there were normally elephants in the vicinity.

Mr Leaname Sebodu, the colleague who was walking with the victim said there was only one elephant that attacked them. He explained that the victim had been late for work the previous day and they left a bit early on Thursday to make it to work on time.

He further mentioned that it was still dark in the morning but he was able to spot what looked like an elephant ahead of them. “I tried several times to warn him as he was walking about a metre in front of me, but he has some hearing problems so he could not hear me,” he narrated.

Consequently, he said his mate walked right on to the elephant, which immediately charged and attacked him. Mr Sebodu said he panicked and ran the opposite direction when he heard screams for help from his friend.

He said he headed downhill to Kgaphamadi ward where he appealed for help. The police said they suspected that the elephant must have tossed and kicked the young man.

They also said getting the necessary help took some time as Mr Sebodu had to hitch hike to the nearest police station only to find police vehicles not available. “The police emergency line was not going through so I asked for a ride from a prisons vehicle to drop off by the police station,” Mr Sebodu said.

Since there was no car available, they had to walk half way to the scene with the police before a vehicle caught up with them. By the time they reached the place, a crowd had already gathered around the young man and it was clear that he had broken some limbs but he could still talk.

He was taken to the hospital for medical assistance. Kasane hospital has confirmed that though the victim had broken legs, he was in a stable condition and had been referred to Mahalapye hospital.

“The patient had fractures on the lower limbs, one on his right leg’s femur bone (thigh) and one on his left leg (tibia).

But due to the scarcity of blood in our hospital he had to be transferred to Mahalapye to get appropriate help,” the hospital’s chief medical officer, Dr Dorcas Mufalali said.

Senior wildlife warden in Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Mr Japhta Maphorisa confirmed receiving a report of the incident but said that they were still investigating the case.

He was in no position to confirm the number of elephants involved in the attack. Mr Maphorisa explained that his department did not compensate victims in such cases. ENDS