Foreign journos robbed ahead of World Cup

VERASHNI PILLAY - Jun 09 2010 12:12

Three European journalists were the victims of an armed robbery early on Wednesday morning at their lodge in Magaliesburg.

"Three journalists from Portugal and Spain were robbed by two suspects at 4am this morning," Colonel Hangwani Mulaudzi told the Mail & Guardian on Wednesday from the National Joint Operational Centre in Pretoria, from where all security forces for the Soccer World Cup are being coordinated.

One of the robbers carried a firearm but no shots were fired.

Mulaudzi said passports, clothes, laptops and cameras were stolen from the journalists, who were staying at the Nutbush Boma Lodge in Magaliesburg, on Johannesburg's West Rand.

Police were helping the three, all men, access new passports. Mulaudzi said the journalists were shaken but otherwise well.

It was suspected that there were more than two robbers involved. Mulaudzi pointed out that the usual modus operandi involved having a person on look-out.

Strong lead
He said investigating officers found a "strong lead" when going through the rooms where the incident took place. "We are currently tracking the suspects and expect to make an arrest soon."

Fears over South Africa's high crime levels have affected preparation for the first World Cup on the African continent. The country's Police Ministry has bulked up its personnel and resources, changed its ranking system and is running a coordinated strategy to avert any security risks.

Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa promised World Cup visitors and fans that "any type of deviant behaviour, be it criminality or terrorism, will be dealt with swiftly and with no mercy" during the month-long tournament, according to government communication.

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About R665-million has been spent on procuring special equipment, with four mobile command centres at a cost of about R6-million each and another R640-million spent on the deployment of 41 000 officers specifically for the 2010 World Cup event

However, concerns about security are still rife, with South Africa's porous borders raising the spectre of an increase in human trafficking.

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Foreign journos robbed ahead of World Cup

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