UPDATE: 7 diplomats robbed at gunpoint on Corlett Drive en-route from OR Tambo

Update, 13 October, 3.35pm

Commenting on the latest attack on a group of 7 Iraqi diplomats travelling from OR Tambo International Airport last night (12 October), Dorian Toussaint, CEO of Professional Passenger Services, confirmed the shuttle had been hijacked by a group of armed suspects at approximately 7.40pm at the Corlett Drive offramp.

On the back of the hijacking of 36 Dutch tourists just two weeks ago, Toussaint said this recent attack, is highly concerning for the tourism industry and South Africa as a whole. 

Toussaint said the company was currently in the process of upgrading their fleet with advanced live video streaming and tracking and fleet management technology. The vehicle involved in last night’s incident already had the equipment installed and the investigating officer is reviewing the footage.

“The new fleet management and tracking system in the vehicle proved that the driver used the recommended route at the scheduled time and followed company protocol. The onboard video cameras, which continually capture HD video 247 should produce clear evidence of some of the perpetrators together with the events.

“While this equipment can’t prevent these incidents from taking place, the value they offer to the industry is footage available within hours of the incident, resulting in the case receiving greater attention as the evidence is current and a higher chance of apprehending the criminals. The footage can also be used for training and education purposes,” said Toussaint.

“I believe urgent collaboration is required between all stakeholders to combat this increasing trend. We need a solution whether it comes from the private or public sector or a combination of the two,” he concluded.

Original report, 13 October, 8.22am

In another attack on foreign travellers in South Africa, seven tourists were accosted by armed robbers on Corlett Drive in Rosebank on 12 October.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo, “The tourists were on their way back from a conference in the Western Cape. They were returning to their accommodation in Johannesburg when they were accosted by a group of armed, unknown men at a robot.”

Their personal items such as jewellery, cellphones and luggage, were stolen.

Naidoo confirmed that one tourist was assaulted and that no arrests have yet been made.

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