Foreign tourists travelling from Gauteng to Sun City and surrounds have come under siege by a heavily armed gang demanding euros and valuables under the threat of death, according to News24.
Groups of Austrian, German and British tourists have been targeted by a gang using a high-end car to run buses off the road along the R556 towards Sun City.
Last weekend, after a bus left Menlyn to go to the Pilanesberg, a white Audi Q3 overtook the bus. Two men wearing masks drew weapons and forced the bus to a halt.
According to a police incident report, two suspects with firearms flanked the driver, and drove the bus to a nearby dirt road. Once hidden by bushes, the men then demanded euros, jewellery, cellphones and bank cards with the pin numbers.
According to the report, the robbery was ‘rushed and disorganised’.
On 24 November, a bus was carrying 32 Austrian tourists to Sun City from Pretoria when a white Audi Q3 tried to block the bus near Lekgalong, outside Rustenburg.
The bus driver didn’t stop, knocking the car off the road while the gunmen peppered the bus with gunfire. Although the driver realised that the left front tyre was flat, he drove on and managed to get the tourists to the Sun City police station safely. A bullet was recovered as evidence.
Flying Squad and highway patrol members constantly patrol the R566 road and the N4 to heighten visibility.
Despite being traumatised by the ordeal, the Austrian group continued their tour as planned after receiving support from the Southern African Tourism Services Association.
The Department of Tourism spokesperson, Zara Nicholson, said they were aware of the attacks. It was a ‘huge concern’, and the Department was working to address it ‘head-on’.