Frustration mounts as police fail to arrest attackers of Hanover Park teen

The mother of a Grade 10 boy, who was born with hyperthyroidism and is lucky to be alive, has expressed frustration at the police for making no arrests after her son and his 17-year-old cousin were struck with a wine bottle during an altercation over a soccer match, leaving him with skull injuries.

Zaid Hendricks, a learner at Crystal Senior Secondary in Hanover Park, is unable to attend school at this stage after he was treated by the Neurology Department at Groote Schuur Hospital. Zaid suffered a skull fracture, and doctors were assessing whether to remove a portion of his skull."

Earlier, Zaid’s mother, Nuraan Hendricks, explained that her son, who was born with hyperthyroidism, and his cousin were attacked in Halman’s Walk in Hanover Park on New Year’s Day. She said the boys had accidentally kicked over a champagne glass and that one of the people who complained was an off-duty policewoman, and that he was struck against the head with a wine bottle.

Sharing videos of the aftermath with the Cape Argus, Hendricks said her son was unable to care for himself and is barely able to walk while he recovers from the trauma he suffered and is calling on police to make an arrest. She claimed that police had failed to follow up on the case or do the necessary medical paperwork.

Family members can be seen carrying the two injured boys after they were attacked.

“If you must know how it feels, I can't help him; I feel like a failure as a mother,” she said. “I have been trying to keep up with everything he is going through. Since he was born, he has not been a normal teenage boy; he has been slower… but now he is slower, and he is not able to go to school this year. He loved going to school.

“Being born with hyperthyroidism is not easy. He is always sick, and now this has happened to him. He is looking at me for help; I am not the police or doctor. I can only console him. I have gone to the police station, and they have made no arrests. I had to go to get his J88 in Mitchells Plain by myself with the medico-legal department.”

Police spokesperson, Constable Ndakhe Gwala, confirmed there were no arrests but that the investigation was ongoing. Neighbours accused of being part of the attack had their home vandalised following the incident and opened a counter case.

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Cape Argus