https://www.timeslive.co.za/ne...-hotel-from-airport/



Tourists robbed on their way to hotel from airport

12 October 2017 - 21:53
BY TIMESLIVE



A group of seven tourists‚ including an Iraqi diplomat‚ were attacked at the Corlett Drive offramp in Johannesburg on Thursday evening.

Police could not immediately confirm the attack and Gauteng police spokesman Kay Makhubele said he was on his way to the crime scene on Thursday night.

According to tweets from anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee‚ the tourists were followed from the OR Tambo International Airport as they made their way to their hotel.

He said one Iraqi ambassador was assaulted‚ and the tourists’ luggage was stolen. He said the criminals left the scene in two vehicles.

https://www.iol.co.za/news/sou...l-in-joburg-11565662



Seven tourists robbed on their way to hotel in Joburg

GAUTENG / 13 OCTOBER 2017, 11:45AM / KHANYISILE NGCOBO


Johannesburg - Police on Friday confirmed they were investigating a case of armed robbery and assault after seven tourists were robbed and assaulted on their way from the OR Tambo International Airport.

The incident happened on Thursday night as the tourists were making their way to their hotel.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said the attack happened along Corlett Drive in Sandton.

"The tourists were coming back from a conference in the Eastern Cape on Thursday night when they were attacked by a group of armed men at a robot on Corlett Drive.

"They were robbed of their personal belongings, which included cash, jewellery, electronics as well as luggage."



He added that one of the tourists was also assaulted during the robbery.

Naidoo refused to confirm the nationality of the tourists or whether or not one of the tourists was an Iraqi diplomat.

"We can confirm however, that a case of armed robbery as well as assault has been opened," he said.

This incident comes hardly a month after a tour group of 36 Dutch tourists was allegedly followed from the airport, held up by armed men dressed as policemen, taken hostage, beaten and driven to a quiet spot where they were subsequently robbed of all their valuables, money and luggage.

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula condemned the attack and has since visited the tourists.

IOL

Considering the folks involved, this sounds more like a targeted hit than the usual random crime.

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
https://www.timeslive.co.za/ne...-hotel-from-airport/




Tourists robbed on their way to hotel from airport

12 October 2017 - 21:53
BY TIMESLIVE



A group of seven tourists‚ including an Iraqi diplomat‚ were attacked at the Corlett Drive offramp in Johannesburg on Thursday evening.

Police could not immediately confirm the attack and Gauteng police spokesman Kay Makhubele said he was on his way to the crime scene on Thursday night.

According to tweets from anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee‚ the tourists were followed from the OR Tambo International Airport as they made their way to their hotel.

He said one Iraqi ambassador was assaulted‚ and the tourists’ luggage was stolen. He said the criminals left the scene in two vehicles.

Thanks Kathi

I don't even have to read the newspaper, I can read all about the crimes taking place in South Africa right here on the hunting forum. Have you got any crime stories about any other countries, or is your interest solely on South Africa?

http://heyjackass.com/

This site is awesome, it shows the actual Chicago homicides and shootings.

Mr Watson,
I'm sure that if Kathi was arranging / selling trips to Chicago, New York, or London she would provide similarly appropriate information to clients regarding current events related to risk -
benefit assessment of their travel. The fact that in this case it casts a shadow on travel to your neck of the woods is not her problem, it's yours.

This is the African travel section.

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
https://www.timeslive.co.za/ne...-hotel-from-airport/




Tourists robbed on their way to hotel from airport

12 October 2017 - 21:53
BY TIMESLIVE



A group of seven tourists‚ including an Iraqi diplomat‚ were attacked at the Corlett Drive offramp in Johannesburg on Thursday evening.

Police could not immediately confirm the attack and Gauteng police spokesman Kay Makhubele said he was on his way to the crime scene on Thursday night.

According to tweets from anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee‚ the tourists were followed from the OR Tambo International Airport as they made their way to their hotel.

He said one Iraqi ambassador was assaulted‚ and the tourists’ luggage was stolen. He said the criminals left the scene in two vehicles.

Thanks Kathi

I don't even have to read the newspaper, I can read all about the crimes taking place in South Africa right here on the hunting forum. Have you got any crime stories about any other countries, or is your interest solely on South Africa?

This is the AFRICAN TRAVEL FORUM. News stories about crimes against tourist at or near the airport, or at the guest houses frequented by hunters, are very relevant.

quote:

Originally posted by stubbleduck47:
Mr Watson,
I'm sure that if Kathi was arranging / selling trips to Chicago, New York, or London she would provide similarly appropriate information to clients regarding current events related to risk -
benefit assessment of their travel. The fact that in this case it casts a shadow on travel to your neck of the woods is not her problem, it's yours.

Mr Stubble Duck

I'm honestly interested in crime in Africa. As I'm sure you know South Africa is merely one country in Africa. Was hoping she had some stories on the countries we don't seem to get crime news on.

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by stubbleduck47:
Mr Watson,
I'm sure that if Kathi was arranging / selling trips to Chicago, New York, or London she would provide similarly appropriate information to clients regarding current events related to risk -
benefit assessment of their travel. The fact that in this case it casts a shadow on travel to your neck of the woods is not her problem, it's yours.

Mr Stubble Duck

I'm honestly interested in crime in Africa. As I'm sure you know South Africa is merely one country in Africa. Was hoping she had some stories on the countries we don't seem to get crime news on.

Crime in Nigeria is irrelevant to African Hunters as there is little to no hunting in Nigeria.

Same cant be said for South Africa.

Reading this thread - I would fly direct to Zim on emirates than transition thru Jo-burg.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by stubbleduck47:
Mr Watson,
I'm sure that if Kathi was arranging / selling trips to Chicago, New York, or London she would provide similarly appropriate information to clients regarding current events related to risk -
benefit assessment of their travel. The fact that in this case it casts a shadow on travel to your neck of the woods is not her problem, it's yours.

Mr Stubble Duck

I'm honestly interested in crime in Africa. As I'm sure you know South Africa is merely one country in Africa. Was hoping she had some stories on the countries we don't seem to get crime news on.

Crime in Nigeria is irrelevant to African Hunters as there is little to no hunting in Nigeria.

Same cant be said for South Africa.

Reading this thread - I would fly direct to Zim on emirates than transition thru Jo-burg.

Mike

More countries in Africa than SA and Nigeria. Freedom of press and crime statistics collection is at it's highest priority ever in Zimbabwe so I'm sure you would have read tons of articles about the crime there if there was any at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by stubbleduck47:
Mr Watson,
I'm sure that if Kathi was arranging / selling trips to Chicago, New York, or London she would provide similarly appropriate information to clients regarding current events related to risk -
benefit assessment of their travel. The fact that in this case it casts a shadow on travel to your neck of the woods is not her problem, it's yours.

Mr Stubble Duck

I'm honestly interested in crime in Africa. As I'm sure you know South Africa is merely one country in Africa. Was hoping she had some stories on the countries we don't seem to get crime news on.

Crime in Nigeria is irrelevant to African Hunters as there is little to no hunting in Nigeria.

Same cant be said for South Africa.

Reading this thread - I would fly direct to Zim on emirates than transition thru Jo-burg.

Mike

More countries in Africa than SA and Nigeria. Freedom of press and crime statistics collection is at it's highest priority ever in Zimbabwe so I'm sure you would have read tons of articles about the crime there if there was any at all.

I have been to both. Zim is far safer.

South Africa is mess and places hunter frequent are being targeted like Tambo and Africa Sky.

Best to be smart but I am spending discretionary dollars on a vacation - I can choose to go to safer places.

Mike

I wasn't being sarcastic when I asked Kathi if she had a access to crime stories coming out of other African countries. I'm genuinely interested if she had or if if they were only available on the crime in South Africa.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that South Africa is a strong constitutional democracy with one of the highest freedom of presses in the world. It's more developed and still has stronger processes (crime statistic collection) than any of the other African countries. In many ways it's a first world country with third world problems. Our media regularly writes exposes about political corruption, covers almost every major crime and also exposes some practices in our conservation and game farming practices. This is a healthy environment from that point of view in that it's self critical. We have a strong press and stories are shared world wide. And thank goodness for that, we wouldn't know of all these problems if the press didn't cover them.

That obviously comes with it's problems in that someone reading all of this bad news coming out of South Africa and not reading much about the other African countries may assume that countries like Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Kenya etc don't have the same problems on a different scale. For example, a high percentage of major crimes committed in Johannesburg and Pretoria are by foreign immigrants from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Are they angels in their own countries? The truth is that people are the same the world over. Where there is need and opportunity, crime will happen. And where there's a strong press, it will be covered in the media and shared on sites such as this. I've read about hunters saying that this country is way safer than that. So you flew into x for 10 days every 10 years and spent a total of 100 days, you're now the expert on that country and nothing happened so it's safe. You read about crime in SA and it's not safe. I've had 150 clients over 8 years travel to hunt with us in South Africa, the vast majority travelling afterwards on their own to see our country. No incidents of crime whatsoever, nothing, zip. Now they may say the same, that South Africa is safe. It isn't however. There is a need among people who are in poverty throughout Africa and if you provide them with the opportunity, anything can happen. I've lived in four countries and I've found that to be the same the world over.

I'm an outfitter and it probably isn't in the best interests of my business to express my opinion so forthrightly. You may not appreciate me disagreeing with you but maybe you'd appreciate me expressing my opinion on the matter since it involves a subject I have experience on.

Going for popcorn.

Mr Watson: I understand your vested interest in defending SA from an unsavory image. The reality is the problem centers around Johannesburg and the airport area in particular. Foreign visitors are targets and no matter how you massage overall statistics that is the reality of a visit thru Johannesburg. It is one of the few places I have ever been I felt the police offer no protection and are among some of the principal shakedown artists operating in and around the airport. I have been ripped off personally by the police so I'm speaking from experience. I don't know what can be done to fix the problem but denial is not the answer. In the mean time I will consider other options where I feel I can travel to with my wife without concern I will be at peril.

When I fly through Jo'berg, I just arrange my connections so that I don't have to leave the airport. I book to Zim, Port Elizabeth, Windhoek, etc. and just do the layover in the terminal. I haven't booked a hunt within driving distance of OR Tambo airport so I haven't had to drive near there yet.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Mr Watson: I understand your vested interest in defending SA from an unsavory image. The reality is the problem centers around Johannesburg and the airport area in particular. Foreign visitors are targets and no matter how you massage overall statistics that is the reality of a visit thru Johannesburg. It is one of the few places I have ever been I felt the police offer no protection and are among some of the principal shakedown artists operating in and around the airport. I have been ripped off personally by the police so I'm speaking from experience. I don't know what can be done to fix the problem but denial is not the answer. In the mean time I will consider other options where I feel I can travel to with my wife without concern I will be at peril.

I don't have the ability to massage statistics. Statistics are only as accurate as the quality and quantity of information supplied to the calculation. You're of course welcome to travel elsewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Mr Watson: I understand your vested interest in defending SA from an unsavory image. The reality is the problem centers around Johannesburg and the airport area in particular. Foreign visitors are targets and no matter how you massage overall statistics that is the reality of a visit thru Johannesburg. It is one of the few places I have ever been I felt the police offer no protection and are among some of the principal shakedown artists operating in and around the airport. I have been ripped off personally by the police so I'm speaking from experience. I don't know what can be done to fix the problem but denial is not the answer. In the mean time I will consider other options where I feel I can travel to with my wife without concern I will be at peril.

I don't have the ability to massage statistics. Statistics are only as accurate as the quality and quantity of information supplied to the calculation. You're of course welcome to travel elsewhere.

Do people actually pay to hunt with this smartasss?

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Mr Watson: I understand your vested interest in defending SA from an unsavory image. The reality is the problem centers around Johannesburg and the airport area in particular. Foreign visitors are targets and no matter how you massage overall statistics that is the reality of a visit thru Johannesburg. It is one of the few places I have ever been I felt the police offer no protection and are among some of the principal shakedown artists operating in and around the airport. I have been ripped off personally by the police so I'm speaking from experience. I don't know what can be done to fix the problem but denial is not the answer. In the mean time I will consider other options where I feel I can travel to with my wife without concern I will be at peril.

I don't have the ability to massage statistics. Statistics are only as accurate as the quality and quantity of information supplied to the calculation. You're of course welcome to travel elsewhere.

Do people actually pay to hunt with this smartasss?

I might. I haven't seen him be rude in this thread, yet. And that's a plus.
Not sure I'll ever go back to SA since I've been there. Too many other places on my list.

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Mr Watson: I understand your vested interest in defending SA from an unsavory image. The reality is the problem centers around Johannesburg and the airport area in particular. Foreign visitors are targets and no matter how you massage overall statistics that is the reality of a visit thru Johannesburg. It is one of the few places I have ever been I felt the police offer no protection and are among some of the principal shakedown artists operating in and around the airport. I have been ripped off personally by the police so I'm speaking from experience. I don't know what can be done to fix the problem but denial is not the answer. In the mean time I will consider other options where I feel I can travel to with my wife without concern I will be at peril.

I don't have the ability to massage statistics. Statistics are only as accurate as the quality and quantity of information supplied to the calculation. You're of course welcome to travel elsewhere.

Do people actually pay to hunt with this smartasss?

I would not.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Blue Devil:

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Mr Watson: I understand your vested interest in defending SA from an unsavory image. The reality is the problem centers around Johannesburg and the airport area in particular. Foreign visitors are targets and no matter how you massage overall statistics that is the reality of a visit thru Johannesburg. It is one of the few places I have ever been I felt the police offer no protection and are among some of the principal shakedown artists operating in and around the airport. I have been ripped off personally by the police so I'm speaking from experience. I don't know what can be done to fix the problem but denial is not the answer. In the mean time I will consider other options where I feel I can travel to with my wife without concern I will be at peril.

I don't have the ability to massage statistics. Statistics are only as accurate as the quality and quantity of information supplied to the calculation. You're of course welcome to travel elsewhere.

Do people actually pay to hunt with this smartasss?

I would not.

I'm surprisingly OK with that. I'm not a smartass. I have an opinion on a country I live in and love. And I believe it's a valid one. I didn't make that opinion personal. If you can't respect another man's opinion, you're probably not someone I'd want to spend time with either.

You can pm me any other names you want to call me. My contact details are also on the bottom of all my messages that I post.

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Blue Devil:

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Watson:

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Mr Watson: I understand your vested interest in defending SA from an unsavory image. The reality is the problem centers around Johannesburg and the airport area in particular. Foreign visitors are targets and no matter how you massage overall statistics that is the reality of a visit thru Johannesburg. It is one of the few places I have ever been I felt the police offer no protection and are among some of the principal shakedown artists operating in and around the airport. I have been ripped off personally by the police so I'm speaking from experience. I don't know what can be done to fix the problem but denial is not the answer. In the mean time I will consider other options where I feel I can travel to with my wife without concern I will be at peril.

I don't have the ability to massage statistics. Statistics are only as accurate as the quality and quantity of information supplied to the calculation. You're of course welcome to travel elsewhere.

Do people actually pay to hunt with this smartasss?

I would not.

I'm surprisingly OK with that. I'm not a smartass. I have an opinion on a country I live in and love. And I believe it's a valid one. I didn't make that opinion personal. If you can't respect another man's opinion, you're probably not someone I'd want to spend time with either.

You can pm me any other names you want to call me. My contact details are also on the bottom of all my messages that I post.

Beautiful response . . . if I ever decide to hunt in South Africa you sound like a swell guy to hunt with.

Gentleman , fact is we do have crime in Johannesburg. I have never felt threatened in and around the airport but then again I use my savvy.

Now , there are many other places in Africa that are as or even more dangerous to travel to. CAR , Ethiopia and Burkina come to mind. Even Namibia is not without its share. https://www.newera.com.na/2017...ver-tourist-attacks/

I spent a number of weeks in Namibia this year and was astounded to hear the stories. Still a great place to go and I would go back.

If you want to hunt Africa risk free -- buy a hunting DVD , get a box of pop corn and stay home.
Otherwise , travel wisely and enjoy yourself.

Lastly , this Joburg airport security thing reminds me of the canned lion debacle around South African lions. There was so much focus on South Africa that the canning of Lions in other African countries went on unhindered and unknown to some of the unfortunate hunters....

Namibia has been very safe for many, many years so when a crime happens it is both shocking and is news worthy. There is no question that crime in Windhoek is on the rise. However, when you compare what is happening in Namibia vs South Africa, there simply is no comparison. A lot of it has to do with population as Namibia is 2.4 million compared to South Africa's 55 million. There's just a whole lot more opportunity for something to go bad in SA vs most any other southern African country.

Some argue it's an acceptable risk, others argue why do you want to take the risk when there are so many other places to hunt and visit. SA has a long standing crime problem and it's not getting any better...

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

Beautiful response . . . if I ever decide to hunt in South Africa you sound like a swell guy to hunt with.

Birds of a feather........

In the final analysis, exiting that airport is dangerous. Extra care should be taken by those exiting the airport. A little common sense goes a long way.

A little info regarding these robberies...

Johannesburg - Mafoko Security Patrols has distanced itself from the arrest over the weekend of one of its managers in the so-called "airport-follow" robberies.

"We had no prior knowledge of their actions and we were not aware that our vehicles were misused for the commission of these crimes," the company said in a statement on Monday.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the breakthrough of the arrests came on Friday evening.

Naidoo said the team, who acted on information, monitored a security vehicle and discovered that this vehicle, which is contracted to work at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), was following a sedan from ORTIA travelling towards Sandton.

Police stopped the security vehicle with two men in. Naidoo said one of the men, a security manager, was wanted for a case of possession of an unlicensed firearm and an armed robbery in the Limpopo province.

Both were arrested on the scene.

The security company said the two men acted in their own personal capacity and that the men were not deployed to the airport.

"Their line of work does not include that particular site. The alleged 'security company manager' was deployed elsewhere and his line of work required that he be provided with a marked security vehicle at all times, a privilege which he has clearly abused."

Four other men were arrested in Hillbrow during the early hours of Saturday morning. All six suspects are between 23 and 38 years of age. They are expected to appear in court on Monday.

A seventh suspect was still at large.

Police found several incriminating items, including the security vehicle, a sedan, passports, at least 15 cellular phones and several luggage bags during the arrests in Hillbrow.

Two pistols had also been recovered and sent for ballistic testing to establish which crimes, if any, they might have been used in.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
A little info regarding these robberies...

Johannesburg - Mafoko Security Patrols has distanced itself from the arrest over the weekend of one of its managers in the so-called "airport-follow" robberies.

"We had no prior knowledge of their actions and we were not aware that our vehicles were misused for the commission of these crimes," the company said in a statement on Monday.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the breakthrough of the arrests came on Friday evening.

Naidoo said the team, who acted on information, monitored a security vehicle and discovered that this vehicle, which is contracted to work at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), was following a sedan from ORTIA travelling towards Sandton.

Police stopped the security vehicle with two men in. Naidoo said one of the men, a security manager, was wanted for a case of possession of an unlicensed firearm and an armed robbery in the Limpopo province.

Both were arrested on the scene.

The security company said the two men acted in their own personal capacity and that the men were not deployed to the airport.

"Their line of work does not include that particular site. The alleged 'security company manager' was deployed elsewhere and his line of work required that he be provided with a marked security vehicle at all times, a privilege which he has clearly abused."

Four other men were arrested in Hillbrow during the early hours of Saturday morning. All six suspects are between 23 and 38 years of age. They are expected to appear in court on Monday.

A seventh suspect was still at large.

Police found several incriminating items, including the security vehicle, a sedan, passports, at least 15 cellular phones and several luggage bags during the arrests in Hillbrow.

Two pistols had also been recovered and sent for ballistic testing to establish which crimes, if any, they might have been used in.

Good news, thank you for posting that

K Evans, Thanks for the post.

And another update...

Cape Town - Just when it seems criminals have been winning a brazen crime wave against travellers, the South African Police Service (SAPS) says recent arrests made over the weekend are a "breakthrough' in what has been dubbed the "airport-following" robberies committed in and around the Johannesburg area.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo says SAPS has seen a significant decrease in crime reports in and around the airport", since the spotlight fell on travellers’ safety to Africa’s busiest International airport earlier in July.

The most recent in a spate of robberies involving robbers posing as police men and following travellers after they leave the airport involved a group of 36 Dutch tourists on Sunday 24 September.

The tourists, who cut short their 22-day visit, were with their tour guide and bus driver when they were robbed shortly after arriving in the country while en route to their accommodation. They were stopped by a police car and a man who was dressed in police uniform. Five others were dressed in civilian clothing.

According to Naidoo the reports in crimes have dropped significantly though.

“In July levels were reaching unprecedented proportions,” he says.

But Naidoo believes the new security strategy, which cannot be detailed in its entirety, has resulted in the significant drop in the number of crimes being reported in and around the airport.

“Reports have reduced to one in a week,” says Naidoo who cites data integrity and verification of actual crimes not allowing him to detail the specifics of each arrest.

In July, Minister of Police, Fakile Mbalula announced measures for a “master security plan" at OR Tambo International to combat the growing crime wave at the airport.

While no limited access to the Airport had been put in place as stated by Mbalula, Naidoo confirms stop-and-search operations are being sporadically done on the highways to the airport and will happen on a continuous basis he says, "This is but one part of the operations happening at the airport to combat crime”.

Other measures includes the process of vetting of 35 000 employees across companies at and contracted to the airport, as well as the implementation of a specialised task-team at OR Tambo.

Naidoo says SAPS is working together with all entities to ensure that travellers are alert and informed.

"Educating them on how to not put themselves at risk remains vital. It’s simple things like not withdrawing large amounts of cash at the airport, not broadcasting your itinerary and keeping high-value goods out of sight," says Naidoo.

Be self aware, when in doubt there is no doubt, this can happen anywhere (Chicago, St. Louis (city I live next to), Atlanta, LA, ad nauseum)). Always has been, is and will be. Just be aware of your surroundings and be prepared. South Africa is no different than any other major metropolitan area in any country.

Mr. Watson is just making a valid point concerning your responsibility to safeguard yourself and that crime is universal. Just my 2 cents.

Ambush between a major international airport and a nearby hotel by what apparently appeared to be official vehicles and uniformed individuals is not likely in any European or North American country. Yes there are risks in any large city but recent occurrences around O R Tambo seem somewhat unique and perhaps worthy of specific concern / discussion.

My question is this: Let's say they catch the perps.
by the time they come to trial, the tourist will have returned home. Thus there is no one to testify against them. Do they go free?
What drives this question was many, many years ago in Hawaii the locals were robbing tourist and when (if) caught and put on trial, the victims had returned home. To clean up the matter, the airlines started flying the victims back to Hawaii for free so they could identify and testify against the criminals.

I’m sure SAA would be happy to fly victims back for free, since they are doing so well financially. when you think that Dawie Groenwald has been out on bail for 3-4 years and trial is still nowhere in sight, it’s a sure bet anyone caught will be dead of AIDS or skipped of to another country before any muggers are actually tried.