Mbeki's man hijacked

2003-07-29 23:05

Pretoria - Nine robbers attacked presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo and robbed him of his silver BMW at gunpoint in Pretoria on Tuesday night.

Khumalo was visiting a friend in Pretoria about 19:10. He parked his car when he noticed two BMWs approaching.

Nine armed men came up to him and shouted at him. They demanded his keys at gunpoint.

One of them stomped on him while he was lying on the grass.

They stole his car, a laptop, cellphone, and other personal belongings.

No one was injured.

The car was found in Tembisa on the East Rand about 20:30, a little more than an hour later. Khumalo grew up in Tembisa.

Khumalo later said he was thankful to be alive.

"I'm still alive. I have faith in this country. My belief in the security forces of this country is unshaken. My spirit is very high," he said.

Khumalo said he would like to thank the police and Netstar, the tracking company responsible for recovering the car.

"They were very, very quick and efficient in dealing with the matter," he said. "I want to pay tribute to them."

Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson said the DA was pleased that Khumalo was not injured or killed during his ordeal.

"It is essential that the police get on top of the hijacking problem," Gibson said in a statement.

"The disposal of hijacked cars is a multi-million rand racket...

"If we can stop the sale and distribution of hijacked cars and we can start catching the hijackers and punishing them, the problem will be brought under control," he said.

- SAPA