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IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Woman awarded R2. 2 million after rubber bullet eye injury
A woman will be compensated R2.2 million after an errant rubber bullet struck her right eye. The injured eye had to be surgically removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Image: File A woman who was struck in her right eye with a rubber bullet and had to have it surgically removed will be compensated to the tune of R2.2 million by the Police Ministry. This comes after the High Court of South Africa at the North West Division, Mahikeng, granted the damages claim of the woman who had initially sought costs of R3.5m. The woman was struck by an errant rubber bullet in her right eye on July 11, 2019, while doing chores in her yard, as nearby civil unrest unfolded and police attended to the scene. The woman, who was 19 at the time of the incident, and was gaining traction in her entrepreneurial business selling homemade atchar door-to-door with a monthly income of about R3600, lost all function in her right eye, and it was surgically removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Since the replacement of her eye with the prosthesis, the woman said that it has caused her trauma as the ocular prosthesis currently fitted presents an unnatural appearance and lacks synchronous movement with the remaining functional eye. It was put to the court that the visible asymmetry has attracted unsolicited attention. 'Compounding the distress, the prosthesis is associated with mucosal discharge emitting an offensive odour, which exacerbates public scrutiny and contributes to the plaintiff's ongoing embarrassment. She states further that scarring beneath the right eye, resulting from the surgical procedure, adds to her disfigurement and intensifies her emotional discomfort,' the judgment read. Incumbent on her traumatic experience, the woman said it had 'diminished her self-worth and confidence, especially as she is a young unmarried woman', and before the incident, she was naturally extroverted and socially active, but has since experienced marked social withdrawal and a reluctance to appear in public settings. Her claim included future medical expenses, which would include the services and consultations with ophthalmologists, occupational therapists, and industrial psychologists.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
High Court rules in favour of woman injured by rubber bullet during civil unrest
High Court awards R2.2 million to woman injured by police rubber bullet. Image: Supplied A woman who suffered a devastating injury when a rubber bullet struck her right eye, resulting in the surgical removal of the eye, has been awarded R2.2 million in compensation by the Police Ministry. This significant ruling follows a decision by the High Court in Mahikeng, which granted her damages after she initially sought R3.5 million to cover her losses. The woman was struck by the errant rubber bullet on July 11, 2019, while doing chores in her yard, while nearby civil unrest unfolded and police had attended. The woman, who was 19 at the time when the incident occurred and was gaining traction in her entrepreneurial business selling homemade atchar door-to-door with a monthly income of about R3 600 per month, lost all function in her right eye, and it was surgically removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Since the replacement of her eye with the prosthesis, the woman said that it has caused her trauma as the ocular prosthesis currently fitted presents an unnatural appearance and lacks synchronous movement with the remaining functional eye. It was put to the court that the visible asymmetry has attracted unsolicited attention. 'Compounding the distress, the prosthesis is associated with mucosal discharge emitting an offensive odour, which exacerbates public scrutiny and contributes to the plaintiff's ongoing embarrassment. She states further that scarring beneath the right eye, resulting from the surgical procedure, adds to her disfigurement and intensifies her emotional discomfort,' the judgment read. Incumbent on her traumatic experience, the woman said it had 'diminished her self-worth and confidence, especially as she is a young unmarried woman', and before the incident, she was naturally extroverted and socially active, but has since experienced marked social withdrawal and a reluctance to appear in public settings. Her claim included future medical expenses, which would include the services and consultations with ophthalmologists, occupational therapists, and industrial psychologists.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Three men sentenced to 30 years for brutal farm attack
At the High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division in East London, three men were sentenced for kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, and multiple firearm-related offences. Image: File Three men will serve lengthy prison sentences for a violent farm attack which occurred at Lorain Farm in Bluewater, near East London, last year. In committing the crime, the trio had assaulted and attacked a farm owner and four employees, and made off with items to the value R2.2 million. A former co-accused was acquitted after the court accepted his version that he was a contracted e-hailing driver who merely transported the men, unaware of their criminal intentions. At the High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division in East London, Odwa Dyabana, 26, Luthando Ngangelizwe, 29, and Siseko Qhayiso, 31, were convicted and sentenced, having faced charges of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, and multiple firearm-related offences. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, said Ngangelizwe and Qhayiso were each sentenced to an effective 25 years' imprisonment. Dyabana received an additional sentence for culpable homicide and reckless driving, bringing his effective sentence to 30 years. All three were declared unfit to possess firearms. 'The court heard that the assailants arrived at the farm under the pretence of wanting to purchase dogs. After gaining the farm owner's trust, they lured him to the kennels in his Toyota Land Cruiser. There, they produced firearms, tied him up, and returned to the farmhouse, where they continued with the robbery. 'The farm owner and four employees were assaulted, kidnapped, and held hostage. The attackers tortured the farm owner by binding him, placing him in a bathtub, running hot water, and threatening to dismember him with a chainsaw to force him to reveal the location of the safe keys. 'Unable to open the safes, the attackers used tools to dislodge them from the walls, loaded them into the stolen Land Cruiser, and fled the scene in a convoy that included the victim's Toyota Hilux. The stolen items — including firearms, wedding rings, wristwatches, binoculars, and other valuables — were valued at over R2.2 million,' said Tyali. The criminals were nabbed after being involved in a multi-vehicle collision on the N2 near Beacon Bay involving the Land Cruiser, a Toyota Quantum, and a VW Polo. 'A woman sustained spinal injuries and later died in hospital. Fifteen others suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious. During the getaway, the safes fell on Qhayiso while the group was being pursued by ECO Scorpions security officers and the SAPS K9 Unit. Ngangelizwe fell from the back of the Land Cruiser and was arrested at the scene, while Dyabana was apprehended nearby while fleeing on foot. Qhayiso was arrested in February 2025,' said Tyali.
The South African
20 hours ago
- The South African
Court awards R2.2 million to woman blinded by police rubber bullet
The North West High Court in Mahikeng has ordered the Police Ministry to pay R2.2 million in damages to a woman who lost her right eye after police shot her with a rubber bullet. The woman had initially claimed R3.5 million. The incident happened on 11 July 2019 when the woman, then 19 years old, was struck in the eye while doing chores in her yard. Police had responded to nearby civil unrest at the time. According to IOL , at the time of the shooting, the woman was running a growing business selling homemade atchar door to door. Earning about R3 600 a month. The injury resulted in the complete loss of vision in her right eye, which surgeons later removed and replaced with a prosthetic. Since the surgery, the woman has struggled with trauma linked to the prosthetic eye's unnatural appearance and its failure to move in sync with her remaining eye. The court heard that the visible difference in her eyes has drawn unwanted public attention. Additionally, she suffers from mucosal discharge with an unpleasant odour from the prosthesis, worsening her distress and embarrassment. 'The scarring beneath the right eye from the surgery adds to her disfigurement and deepens her emotional discomfort,' the judgment stated. Burdened by her traumatic experience, the woman told the court that the incident had shattered her self-worth and confidence, especially as a young, unmarried woman. She described herself as a naturally extroverted and socially active person before the incident. She also said she now suffers from severe social withdrawal and avoids public spaces. Her claim included compensation for future medical treatment. Covering consultations with ophthalmologists, occupational therapists, and industrial psychologists. Acting Judge Roshiela Titus said, 'It is common cause that the plaintiff has endured pain and suffering, disfigurement, permanent disability and loss of amenities of life. While the first defendant (Minister of Police) has achieved a measure of success in reducing the amount of general damages. The plaintiff is largely successful in this matter, and there is no reason why the normal rule that costs follow the event should not apply.' The final award of R2 205 567 covered general damages, loss of earnings, future medical expenses, assistive devices, and the costs of personal care assistance. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Woman awarded R2.2m after losing eye when hit by police's rubber bullet
The victim was struck in the right eye by a rubber bullet fired while she was at home. A woman from the North West has been awarded R2.2 million in damages after being struck in the eye by a rubber bullet fired by police during a protest. The North West High Court in Mahikeng ruled in favour of Elizabeth Matshidiso Jack, who suffered a major eye injury six years ago. She subsequently launched a civil claim against the minister of police. Although the minister conceded liability, no agreement could initially be reached on the amount of compensation. Jack initially sought R3.5 million (R3 536 677) in damages. Woman sues police minister after losing eye Testifying in court, Jack recounted that on 11 July 2019, she had been doing household chores in her yard in Ikageng, near Potchefstroom, when she was struck in the right eye by a rubber bullet fired by South African Police Service (Saps) members. The police officers were responding to civil unrest in the street outside her home at the time. As a result of the injury, Jack lost all function in her right eye. The eye was later surgically removed and replaced with a prosthesis. Jack, who was 19 years old at the time of the incident, described the loss of her eye as a deeply traumatic event that significantly affected her sense of self-worth and confidence, particularly as a young unmarried woman. ALSO READ: Wrongfully arrested woman wins nearly R600k after ordeal that led her to consider suicide She explained that she had previously been extroverted and social, but the injury caused her to withdraw from the public. The woman now avoids public settings due to the appearance of the prosthesis, which does not move in sync with her remaining eye and creates an unnatural look. She also described scarring beneath her right eye from the surgery, which she claimed adds to her disfigurement and worsens her discomfort. Loss of income Jack further highlighted the physical pain she continues to endure. According to the victim, she manages the pain by sleeping, hoping that it will subside by the time she wakes due to a lack of proper medication. She also raised concerns about the risk of infection to her prosthetic eye, explaining that she avoids basic household tasks – such as sweeping or cooking – out of fear that exposure to dust or spices could potentially lead to complications. Jack testified that she supported herself by selling atchaar door-to-door, earning approximately R3 600 per month. Since the incident, her earnings have halved to R1 800. She also stated that she would require future medical and non-medical care, with costs estimated at R604 406 for occupational therapy and assistive devices. Medical and expert testimony Ophthalmologists who testified in court confirmed Jack is permanently blind in her right eye and suffers from a mild degree of post-enucleation socket syndrome, which can be surgically corrected. Occupational therapists testified that Jack's injury affects her ability to compete with her peers in the informal work sector. They agreed she would benefit from 32 hours of occupational therapy, at a cost of R750 to R850 per hour. READ MORE: Potchefstroom man awarded R850k in damages after horrific ordeal of wrongful arrest, detention She would also require adaptive equipment, an assistant for her business paid at the national minimum wage, eight hours of weekly domestic help, gardening services in summer and winter, and home maintenance costing R20 000. Industrial psychologists also gave evidence, stating that although Jack had no post-school qualifications, no driver's licence and was self-employed, she would likely have progressed to semi-skilled employment with higher earnings over time. North West High Court ruling In his ruling, Acting Judge Randall Ralph Titus highlighted that while the minister contended that Jack had not sufficiently proven her claim for loss of income, it remained undisputed that she had suffered harm as a result of the police's 'wrongful conduct'. The judge noted that Jack could not work for five months after the incident and calculated her lost income during that period as R18 000. He referenced prior judgments to determine an appropriate compensation amount and awarded R500 000 in general damages. 'It is common cause that the plaintiff has endured pain and suffering, disfigurement, permanent disability and loss of amenities of life,' the 2 July judgment reads. Titus further ordered that Jack be paid R18 000 for loss of earnings, R1 380 469 for future medical and related expenses, and R307 098 for assistants, bringing the total to R2 205 567. The amount is to be paid with interest. In addition, the minister was ordered to cover Jack's travel, food, and accommodation expenses incurred in connection with her medico-legal appointments. NOW READ: Daveyton man seeks R350k in damages after wife left him following unlawful arrest
