S/African minister apologises to robbed Dutch tourists

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S/African minister apologises to robbed Dutch tourists

6:04 CAT | 27 Sep 2017

South African Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has apologised to 36 Dutch tourists robbed soon after arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport at the weekend and announced that a crack team of seasoned detectives from the National Investigation Unit has been assigned to probe the incident.

The tourists were travelling from the airport on Sunday evening when they were ambushed by a South African Police Service (SAPS)-marked vehicle with one criminal dressed in police uniform and five others wearing civilian clothes.

After stopping the tourists in the middle of a highway, they were robbed of their personal possessions, with two of them reportedly injured. They were treated by paramedics on the spot following the incident.

Clearly shaken, the tourists flew back to the Netherlands on Tuesday night after deciding to abandon their holiday.

Mbalula, joined by Tourism Minister Thoko Xasa, said he had visited the tourists at their hotel in Johannesburg where he offered the visitors an apology for the incident.

Addressing the media after meeting with the group, the minister said the SAPS would work to improve security systems at OR Tambo airport to ensure the safety of both South Africans and visitors.

“OR Tambo International Airport remains the gateway to Africa, as well as opens the door to millions of international guests visiting our country annually. Therefore its security is of paramount importance to the SAPS, as well as the country as a whole.

The minister added: “This act of criminality, we take it seriously. The actions we will take must serve as a clear sign that criminality will never be tolerated in our country.”

Passengers leaving OR Tambo have been facing robbers for a long time, a criminal network which trails them as soon as leave the airport.

The end result of the criminals’ actions is an ambush along the route to hotels from the airport or an ambush conducted on arrival at a residence.

Though new measures have been put in place since Mbalula, a former sports minister, took charge of the SAPS, the criminals and their networks have proved to be a hard nut to crack.

Source: APA