A Zimbabwean minister who was assaulted during an armed robbery in Bryanston, should have followed protocol and asked for VIP protection from police, a spokesperson said on Saturday.
”We need to emphasise that its protocol to ask for protection from the VIP protection unit,” police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said.
”We are concerned that he came into this country without following protocol, if any minister comes into the country he must register with the South African government and we will be tasked into protecting him,” Naidoo said.
The robbery occurred on Friday evening at the minister’s friend’s home in Bryanston.
”They were having supper when a number of armed men stormed into the house, tied them up, assaulted them, and demanded money,” Crime Intelligence and Interpol spokesperson Tumi Golding said.
The robbers then made off with a number of items, including jewellery, money and electronic goods.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene, and the minister was rushed to hospital for observation as he had been hit on the back of the head with a gun.
”He spent the night at the hospital and was discharged this morning [Saturday].”
Golding could not give the name of the minister as police were waiting for the go ahead from the Zimbabwean authorities.
She could also not say why the minister was visiting the country, or whether he was still here.
A case of robbery and common assault was being investigated. — Sapa