‘Several’ Iraqi diplomats robbed in Joburg, luggage taken

A number of Iraqi diplomats were allegedly followed by gunmen from O R Tambo International airport and robbed at the Corlett Drive offramp in Johannesburg on Thursday evening.

Anti-crime activists Yusuf Abramjee says the diplomats were on their way to the hotel when the robbers pounced and left with two vehicles which had their belongings.

City of Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba tweeted that the news were ‘”devastating”.

“This is devastating news. Our justice system is failing South Africans. National leadership vacuum,” he said.

Last month, 36 traumatised Dutch tourists who had planned to be in the country for longer, packed their bags and left after being robbed by a group of men, including one who was dressed as a police officer.

“A group of 36 tourists were on their way to the lodge in a tour bus when the driver was ordered to stop by a man wearing a police uniform. Together with another group of men, dressed in civilian clothing, they robbed the tourists of their personal belongings. There were no injuries reported,” said national police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo at the time.