The Tanzanian high commissioner to South Africa — who was beaten unconscious on Friday evening by robbers — is sedated and breathing with the help of a ventilator in Pretoria East Hospital’s intensive-care unit, doctors said.
Dr Linda Ezekiel said Emmanuel Mwambulukutu was in a stable but critical condition.
”He sustained internal head injuries and was bleeding internally. However, bleeding has since subsided.
”He’ll probably gradually wake up in the next couple of days and it’s only then that we’ll know the full extent of the damage — but so far so good,” said Ezekiel.
She said the high commissioner’s wife — who was also attacked — was now ”up and about”.
Tanzania’s high commissioner to South Africa was beaten unconscious and seven other guests were assaulted and robbed at a farewell dinner in Pretoria on Friday night.
About four armed men jumped over the wall of a private home in Garsfontein.
The thieves packed stolen goods into Mwambulukutu’s 4×4 Mercedes and fled.
Police spokesperson Dennis Adriao said one man was arrested in Mamelodi West in the early hours of Saturday morning.
He was shot and wounded and taken to a local hospital under heavy police guard.
”He will be appearing in court soon as he finishes receiving his medical treatment in hospital,” said Adriao.
Police found the man and the Mercedes using the vehicle’s satellite-tracking device.
The man’s three accomplices were still at large, police said.
Adriao said police confiscated three weapons, including a pump-action gun, the Mercedes and property stolen at the function — as well as items stolen in other robberies in the Garsfontein area.
”Detectives will work around the clock to capture the three who escaped,” he said. — Sapa