Kathleen Strachan, of Colne, was visiting the country for her granddaughter's wedding.

She was walking with her daughter, Lynn Daley, to a railway station in Kraaifontein - 40km from Cape Town - when she was attacked on Thursday.

The pensioner, who is paralysed in both arms and could not break her fall, suffered a broken shoulder and facial injuries.

Her watch, necklace and purse were also stolen by the gang.

Mrs Strachan arrived in South Africa in February for her granddaughter Amanda Oliver's wedding.

'Totally disgusted'

Her daughter, who has lived in South Africa for 30 years, said: "We saw something in the bushes, about seven or eight guys came running at us.

"Blood was pouring from [my mother's] face.

"I am disgusted; I am totally disgusted by the way we live in South Africa, that we can't even go to work in safety.

"What is it going to take, another 10 tourists to be killed?"

South Africa has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world.