There have been two armed attacks on tourists in South Africa in the past seven days. It has now emerged that attackers shot at a bus carrying 32 Austrian passengers last week – but the gang was able to shake off the attack. A group of holidaymakers was less lucky on Saturday; their bus was hijacked. Heavily armed and masked men stole cameras, mobile phones and jewelry from the frightened holidaymakers.
On both occasions, the holidaymakers had left the capital Pretoria to drive to South Africa’s most exclusive holiday resort Sun City and the neighboring Pilanesberg Game Reserve when the robbers intercepted them on a country road.
The first raid took place near the town of Rustenburg. According to “Bild”, a car suddenly appeared in the coach that would take 32 Austrian tourists to the 5-star resort. A gun was pointed at the bus driver from the side window of the vehicle.
Attackers fired, bus driver rammed car
Then scenes would have taken place like in an action movie. When the bus driver refused to stop, the criminals opened fire on the front tires. Instead of standing still, the driver decided to ram the attackers’ Audi with the 25-ton carriage.
The attackers eventually turned away. Two bullet holes in the side of the bus and one in the front tire testify to the crime; no one was injured.
However, a second group of tourists was less lucky on Saturday. Eleven holidaymakers, including six Germans, were on their way to see the “Big 5” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard). Their bus was hijacked and jewelry, cell phones and cameras were stolen.
The events cast a dark shadow on the image of the country that is also known as a holiday paradise. The police have tightened controls.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
