Strand dog-rescuer Vanessa Cunningham asks support from the community at the magistrate's court in Strand, court B, on 16 January 2015 when she testifies against two of the six black-racist attackers who cursed her for 'white bitch' and 'monkey' -- and caused her serious brain damage by bludgeoning her with a hammer. She still has not fully recovered and struggles with her health. The case is going badly: she in fact fears that since no witnesses have come forward on her behalf, she might even be charged with assault when defending a little dog which was being beaten with a plank. She was found unconscious after the altercation with members of the local community on the premises of the Helderberg Township Animal Rescue (TAR) in Asanda Village next to Nomzamo on 26 July 2014.
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CASE DETAILS: Lwandle Case 473/7/14 takes place at Strand Court:B on January 16 2015 from 9am
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She writes on facebook: "On 26 July 2014 my life changed in ways that I still haven't come to understand. Not only did I hit fame, for all the wrong reasons, with this picture that made it to front page of all the local papers. But I lost so much that as the cliche states "we take for granted". Some things I will hopefully get back in time, others are gone for ever.
Everyone had an opinion on this attack ranging from sympathy to criticism, but most had the same thinking" "What did you expect from living with blacks".
I wasnt a racist back then and that certainly hasnt changed, but my fear and distrust for all has worsened. I am now a coward, something I prided myself for not being.
I have also lost a part of my brain which I was told would heal. Its been nearly six months and my memory is still shocking, forcing me to come to terms with my disability.
The reason I am flogging this seemingly dead horse is that I need to appear in court on Friday 16th January and once again face my attackers.
We have met in court for mediation once which was a total disaster as they claim that I attacked them with a knife and they were the injured ones, not me. At that stage my medical records had not been collected from the hospital, and there were no witnesses present. As well as the fact that out of 6 attackers, only 2 are being charged as I do not know the names and addresses of the others.
I am not scared of facing them or of returning to court, but my new cynicism scares me. The fact that I dont believe that anything will come of this and possibly I will be charged falsely with one of their lies.
It would be fantastic to see some support in the courtroom but I do understand that everyone has their own lives to live.
But just in case.... Lwandle Case 473/7/14 Strand Court B 16-01-2015 at 9am..
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202095693112874&set=a.2858870689909.103945.1803926399&type=1&theater
Attack: http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/dog-rescuer-attacked-with-hammer-1.1727992#.VLYI7MkkCos
Background: Dog-rescuer hit with a hammer: cursed for 'monkey' and 'white bitch'
July 30 2014 chelsea.geach@inl.co.za Cape Argus
By Chelsea Geach Dog rescuer attacked CAPE ARGUS Vanessa Cunningham, who lives in Asanda Village, and has been rescuing township dogs for the past 15 years, was attacked after she tried to stop a neighbour beating one of her dogs with a plank. Photo: Tracey Adams
Cape Town - A woman is recovering after being attacked with a hammer while trying to protect a rescued dog that her neighbour was beating with a plank on Saturday night.
Vanessa Cunningham has been rescuing township dogs for the past 15 years. Her instinct to protect one of her rescued pups earned her a concussion and staples in the head after her neighbour and a group of friends launched a vicious attack on her and the dogs. They also hurled racial slurs at her.
Cunningham lives with her 7-year-old daughter on the premises of the Helderberg Township Animal Rescue (TAR) in Asanda Village next to Nomzamo.
“All the odds are against her but she continues to do this work for the community,” said rescue volunteer Xavier Capes. “In the township everyone knows her. They call her Mama Inja. Even the not-so-legal guys have dogs and they respect her.”
On Saturday, Cunningham returned home from a charity auction at around 9pm, with Capes who lives nearby. Her neighbour was holding a party.
A few of the rescue dogs slipped out of her front gate to play outside, and Cunningham didn’t think twice about it until she heard shouting from the revellers next door.
When she went outside, they called her a “monkey” and a “white bitch”.
She laughed it off, but when she turned to get the dogs in, a rock hit her back, then hit her daughter on the foot.
“That made me really angry,” she said. “I went outside with a mop in my hand, and it all went pear-shaped.”
Three men and three women jumped on top of her and there was a fight on the ground.
Neighbours arrived to break up the fight and protect her.
When she ran inside to call the police she heard one of the dogs yelping. “They were beating one of the little Malteses with a plank,” Cunningham said.
Rushing outside to save the dog, Cunningham was attacked with a wooden plank with nails sticking out of it. As soon as she had dodged that weapon, a woman attacked her from behind, delivering four blows to her head with a hammer.
“I realised I was quite badly injured. I locked up the house, got my daughter, and I was walking to the car when I collapsed.”
That was where volunteer Capes found her. He loaded her into his car and took her to hospital.
Capes became involved in the rescue group three years ago when he was living on the street and cared for a stray dog.
“Just like I rescued that dog, Vanessa rescued me from the streets of Somerset West,” he said. “She basically saved my life. Now it’s time to return the favour.”
The community is outraged about the attack, says Capes.
Some men keep asking him what he is going to do to punish the violent neighbour, who has stayed away from his home since Saturday night.
“Asanda Village is one of the best examples of cosmopolitan society in South Africa,” Capes said. “We all live in harmony except this one dude.”
Cunningham has sent her daughter to stay with a friend, while Capes has moved on to the TAR premises to protect her in case the neighbour returns.
“I cannot let her be alone if no arrests have been made,” he said.
The small dog escaped with no serious injuries, but all the dogs involved in the attack are apparently traumatised and extremely protective over Cunningham.
TAR is trying to find foster homes for as many of the dogs as possible while they search for new premises to which to move the organisation.
chelsea.geach@inl.co.za Cape Argus
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/dog-rescuer-attacked-with-hammer-1.1727992#.VLYI7MkkCos
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