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SA can't afford crime - UN envoy
25/07/2007 00:19 - (SA)
Christel Raubenheimer, Beeld
Johannesburg - "These things also happen in New York, but they have thousands of tourists and can possibly afford to lose a few. We can't."
This is the view of Dumisani Kumalo, South Africa's Ambassador to the United Nations, who was the victim of an armed robbery in Johannesburg at the weekend.
Kumalo is in South Africa for a few weeks, mainly on a family visit.
He's also scheduled to attend a meeting with other South African ambassadors to Middle Eastern countries next week.
His briefcase, containing some personal documents, was among the items stolen. Kumalo said there had been no classified documents among them and they would be easy to replace.
He had just reached his son's house in Greenside, Johannesburg, from the OR Tambo International Airport at about 17:30 when three young robbers struck.
One threatened Kumalo while his two sidekicks held up veteran journalist Joe Thloloe, who had gone to collect Kumalo from the airport. Panicky
"They were panicky. The boot didn't open fast enough. They were very specific and wanted wallets, the baggage and also our cellphones," Kumalo said.
Kumalo's son and another man came out of the house and their cellphones and wallets were also taken from them.
When another man walked around the corner of the house, they shot him.
"It was really terrible. The police may be able to catch the children (robbers). Tourists
"I'm more concerned that this can affect tourism. It's a terrifying thing to experience, and you don't want tourists to be exposed to it," Kumalo said.
Kumalo and his wife Tikie were robbed in the driveway of their house in Faerie Glen, Pretoria in November 2004.
On that occasion Kumalo was also returning from the airport.
"It was bad: they pushed the firearms against our heads that time," Tikie said.
After this weekend's robbery the thugs calmly strolled off and the wounded man was taken to hospital.
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