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Attack on UN envoy: Hunt is on
24/07/2007 20:48 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Police were on Tuesday searching for three men who held up South Africa's envoy to the United Nations shortly after his arrival in Johannesburg from New York.
"Our investigation is continuing. We are probing a robbery and attempted murder," said Johannesburg police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini.
Dumisani Kumalo was held up after arriving at his son Mandla's home in Greenside from the OR Tambo airport on Saturday night.
A birthday party for Kumalo's grandson was underway at the time.
The men held up the ambassador and other guests in the driveway and demanded wallets, cellphones and the luggage in Kumalo's car.
'No war against crime'
A man, who was a guest at the party, was shot and wounded in the abdomen when he appeared on the scene.
Sybil Seato, Inkatha Freedom Party MP, said South Africa was losing the fight against crime.
She said the effectiveness of the government's crime combating operations should be questioned in the light of recent attacks on tourists and well-known South Africans.
Referring to other incidents where tourists were attacked after being followed from the OR Tambo airport, Seato said it seemed there was no war against crime.
"If there is, it lacks ammunition," she said.
Police could not say what the condition of the wounded man was on Tuesday.
"He had been operated on," said Dlamini.
Kumalo was shocked by the attack.
"I was terrified. These kids (the robbers) are just reckless. You never know if they are going to kill you," Kumalo was quoted by The Star newspaper as saying.
Various guests, including Mandla, were robbed of their cellphones.
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