MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A Lithuanian tourist, Romas Peiukaitis (59), suffered facial injuries when the vehicle he and four other people were travelling in was hit by a brick on the N2 on Monday at approximately 12:40.
The two couples and their tour guide were travelling in the direction of George when the Mercedes Vito vehicle was hit on the opposite side of the N2, direction George on 4 March.
Apparently, one person appeared and hurled the brick at the Vito. Immediately after, two more people appeared from the KwaNonqaba side of the road and approached the scene.
The vehicle was brought to a stop a short distance from where the stone throwing took place. Shortly thereafter other motorists stopped behind the tourists to warn them of the danger of pulling off the road in the area. Once the locals realised the extent of the tourists injuries, they escorted the tour guide to the Life Bay View Hospital where Peiukaitis was admitted for treatment.
Hospital spokesperson Elzaan Moelich confirmed that the patient was immediately treated for injuries to his left cheek and that he had to be admitted to theatre for further treatment. "Mr Peiukaitis is expected to be discharged on Wednesday," Moelich said at the time.
Tourism safety
The foreign tourists were virtually immediately assisted by Ilze Jacobs, the Tourism Safety Officer for the Southern Cape.
The Tourism Safety and Support Programme, run under the auspices of the Western Cape provincial government provides assistance to visitors who may be in distress during their stay in the province. The support programme is typically activated to provide caring and the support needed to get the tourists' holiday back on track.
Mossel Bay Tourism chief operations officer Aneli Gerber said Jacobs was contacted to assist the tourists with all the necessary arrangements such as accommodation and liaison with the hospital and their diplomatic corps.
"Ilze Jacobs performs miracles and does not leave a stone unturned in her efforts to comfort and assist traumatised tourists. Her dedication and personal sacrifice in getting help for tourists are to be commended," Gerber said.
She added that the stone throwing incident was most probably not unrest related, but "mischief by bored young people in the area".
Typically the Tourism Safety Programme offers assistance with medical/emotional trauma, visiting hospitals, advice on short-term temporary accommodation, help with basic necessities, where possible, help with contacting family or friends, facilitating counselling, advice on short-term transport arrangements, and it contacts embassies in case of lost passports and visas.
Further incidents
KwaNonqaba police spokesperson Sgt Kapp on Wednesday, 6 March said that incidents of stone throwing had been reported on Louis Fourie Road. In this instance, the perpetrators were reportedly young children. Again a motorist had to be hospitalised as a result. Police members were immediately deployed to trace the perpetrators.
Prior to the incident involving the foreign tourists, two other cases of stone throwing were reported on the N2 close to the pig farms. The other incidents were both on the lane closest to the industrial area, when both the driver of a heavy duty vehicle and a couple in their car were stoned over the weekend.
The case of the foreign tourists is being investigated by KwaNonqaba police officer Sgt Rudi Swanepoel. Charges of malicious damage to property and assault with the intent to do serious bodily harm are being investigated. Anyone with any information is requested to contact Sgt Swanepoel (044 606 5600).
