Mali attack: South African survivor speaks out
The nearly 24-hour long siege left 13 people dead, including five UN workers and a South African man.
Writing in Afrikaans, Cronje says the day started like any other, but soon changed into a nightmare.
"Ek was soos gewoonlik vroeg wakker want ons is twee ure van RSA en stuur elke oggend boodskappe na my gesin toe. Nadat ek my wasgoed opgehang het was ek oppad kamer toe, net voor ek die gang in is, het ek die "pilot, co-pilot en ingeneur" wat buite gesit het gegroet. Die eerste skote was net daarna gevuur, seker so vyf sekondes na ek hulle gegroet het. Ek het my kamer ingegaan en heeltyd die sarsies van AK47 vuur gehoor en die persoon het heeltyd geskree "Allahu Akbar". My kolegas was ook in hulle kamers en ons het via "Whatsapp" gekommunikeer. Daar het ons, elk in sy eie kamer gesit en wag vir hulp wat net nie wou opdaag nie."
English translation.
"I was up early, as usual, as we are two hours away from South Africa and would send a message to my family. After hanging up my washing, I went to my room. Just before going into my room, I greeted the pilot, co-pilot and engineer who were sitting outside. The first shots were fired just after, probably about five seconds after greeting them. I went into my room and heard shots repeatedly being fired from an AK-47, and a person screaming ‘Allahu akbar’. My colleagues were also in their rooms. We communicated via Whatsapp. We all sat in our rooms waiting for help that never came.”
#Mali Cronje explains that this was sadly not the case, seeing as the attack started at 7am on Aug 7 and ended at about 4am the next day. MV
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) August 12, 2015
#Mali Cronje says at times they heard no gunfire, but the attackers were inside and outside the hotel the entire time. MV
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) August 12, 2015
#Mali Cronje explains that being shot at, and then being caught in the crossfire (army and attackers) was terrifying and traumatic. MV
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) August 12, 2015
#Mali Cronje "Terrorists that break down doors and shoot into rooms to try and kill people is just as bad." MV
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) August 12, 2015
#Mali Cronje: 'To hear them find someone and then drag them out of the hotel was not nice at all,and I just though it would be my turn next"
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) August 12, 2015
(Edited by: Laila Majiet)
(Source: Maryke Vermaak)
File photo: STRINGER / AFP