Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga recounted to a parliamentary committee that during the early hours of Monday, masked attackers, one wielding a gun, confronted her. They stole laptops, a phone, and weapons belonging to her bodyguards. In an unusual occurrence for a government minister with armed protection, the incident unfolded as her vehicle was stationary for a tire replacement on a main road south of Johannesburg at 03:30 local time.
Chikunga described the traumatic experience, with the robbers forcing her out of the car at gunpoint, demanding money, and searching the vehicle. Despite the threat, she stood firm in protecting a sentimental ring, explaining its significance in the memory of her late husband.
At a certain point, the minister began praying but was promptly silenced.
“We are well, healthy, and alive. It was a harrowing experience, but God showed mercy,” Ms. Chikunga conveyed to parliamentarians, concluding her account of the incident.
Police have confirmed the robbery, launching a manhunt for the culprits, stated police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe, according to AFP news agency.
Describing a common criminal tactic, the ministry of transport explained that spikes on the road punctured the car’s tires, forcing it to a stop and allowing the criminals to carry out the robbery.
The two bodyguards have been placed on leave “until [they are] fit and proper to return to their posts,” stated Brig Mathe as reported by News24.
“Steps are underway to determine what transpired regarding VIP protection protocols,” she added.
In the latest annual survey, nearly 1.3 million people reported being victims of property crime, constituting almost 3% of the population.
The widespread availability of small arms is also a significant issue in South Africa, with guns involved in over 66,000 recorded home robberies.
