US film-makers shot by robbers

2005-07-21 21:38

Annamarie van Wyk

Johannesburg - In yet another attack in the Muldersdrift vicinity, west of Johannesburg, two American film-makers were wounded on Wednesday evening when they fell victim to three robbers.

The men, only known as Eric and Chris, are from Los Angeles and were working in the area on a film production for the Videovision company.

Both are lion experts and would have worked in South Africa until September to complete the project.

The Americans had been in the country just 10 days when the attack took place.

Outing

They went on an outing on Wednesday evening and returned to their guest house in the Zwartkop area at approximately 21:00.

At least three shots were fired at the Americans, who are both in their thirties.

Chris was hit in the shoulder and Eric in the hand. A laptop belonging to one of them was grabbed.

A spokesperson for the Krugersdorp hospital said the Americans were brought to the hospital after the shooting incident.

After medical personnel had established that their wounds were not serious, they were transferred to the Milpark hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

The hospital could not comment on the men's conditions.

Eric and Chris left the guest house and other employees of the production company do not want to stay in the area any longer.

Process

According to Daniel Stewart, spokesperson for the US embassy, they were in the process of making contact with the men.

"We will assist them in any possible manner," he said.

The embassy is not planning to issue a general travel warning to American tourists in the wake of the incident.

"When we issue warnings, they are based on events affecting people over a broad front, not on single incidents," he said.

Videovision confirmed in a statement that two members of their production team had been attacked but refused to give any further information.

- Beeld