Big Issue's Richard Ishmail critically wounded

By Nadia Samie
10 January 2007

The former Managing Director of the Big Issue Magazine, Richard Ishmail, is in hospital in a critical condition after he was attacked in his home in the Woodstock area in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Ishmail is on life support at Groote Schuur Hospital after he sustained critical stab wounds which damaged his kidneys and spleen. Ishmail’s housemate and a friend found him lying in bed in his Devonshire Road home later on Sunday. On lifting the blanket, they saw that the 43-year-old was bleeding profusely.

The friend, who did not want to be named, told Bush Radio that it is thought that Ishmail came home with someone from a party, as their was no sign of forced entry. Only his cellphone and bank card was taken. Expensive equipment, including an iPod and laptop that was in the house at the time, remained untouched.

The Big Issue Magazine is sold by homeless people on the streets on Cape Town. All profits made by the magazine goes into uplifting the vendors.

The friend said that Ishmail’s family, who are in Johannesburg, are still being informed of the incident.

The police's Captain Randall Stoffell's says that a case of attempted murder is being investigated. Anyone with information that may help the police is asked to contact Crime-Stop on 08600-10-111

Comments

Popular Posts