Fasting Muslim worshippers in one of Thohoyandou's mosques, who were observing the month of Ramadan, were left shocked when a badly injured and bleeding man collapsed at the gate of their mosque.

The incident happened on Saturday evening at a dark stretch between the main bus rank and the mosque. The area has been described as one of the most dangerous in Thohoyandou, with several people having been mugged and robbed there.

Over the same weekend, two women who were working a late shift at one of the local supermarkets survived being mugged when eight men attacked them next to the new traffic lights to Maniini. They were rescued by passing motorists.

The circumstances surrounding the latest incident are still sketchy, as the man was badly injured and could only mumble inaudible words. An eyewitness at the scene, Mr Shoeb Ahmed, said they had just come out of the mosque, “when this man came staggering and bloodied and collapsed here. He was with five other people and when we summoned the police, the five ran away," he said.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson Const Avhafarei Tshiovhe appealed to the public to avoid dark areas. She said investigations were continuing.