Animal Rescue Organisation staff attacked during community outreach in Philippi

The Animal Rescue Organisation mobile clinic when it does outreach work in the informal settlements. The Animal Rescue Organisation (ARO) staff members are in shock after they survived an attack and robbery while doing their routine community veterinary outreach work near the Siyahlala Clinic, close to Brown’s Farm, Philippi, on Tuesday, December 2. ARO spokesperson Lindsey Concer said two of their employees who were part of ARO’s mobile clinic stationed near the Siyahlala Clinic were attacked when nine men surrounded them at around 11 am.

According to Concer, the men trapped their employees who could not leave their mobile clinic. “The attackers began to physically assault them by twisting arms, repeatedly hitting staff, and attempting to force them into the mobile clinic vehicle with the apparent intention of moving them to a second location,” she said. Concer said her colleagues showed immense courage to fight back against their attackers to prevent a possible kidnapping to a second location.

“Although shaken, bruised, and concussed, we are profoundly relieved to confirm that our staff are physically safe. However, the emotional impact is significant,” she said. Concer said the criminals stole her colleagues’personal cellphones, driver’s licenses, and other belongings.

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personal cellphones, driver’s licenses, and other belongings. Provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, confirmed that a robbery case was reported on Tuesday, December 2, where the victimswere robbed of their cellphones in Siyahlala, Brown’s Farm. “The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, and no arrests have been made yet,” he said. Provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, confirmed that a robbery case was reported on Tuesday, December 2, where the victims

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