By Kashiefa Ajam and Sameer Naik
On the cusp of an unforgettable international sporting weekend, South Africa appears unable to shake the global perception that it is a haven for criminals.
On Thursday night, fresh from their stunning Confederations Cup triumph over Italy, the victorious Egyptians found their five hotel rooms had been broken into and several thousand dollars stolen.
Earlier that evening, four British tourists had arrived at OR Tambo International Airport ahead of today's opening Test in the three-Test British and Irish Lions tour of the country.
They were followed to where they were staying the night, then beaten up and robbed.
Ten days ago, the SA Police Service had said sports fans need not fear for their safety when they were in the country.
But the lawbreakers who followed and attacked two sets of brothers Michael, 57, and Peter Harriott, 58, and Simon 57, and John Murphy, 52, are still roaming free.
The four men from Kent, England - who flew in from London to follow the British and Irish Lions tour - were hijacked on Thursday night on their way home from OR Tambo. After hiring a car with a GPS navigation system, the four headed off to Duxberry in Sandton, where they had booked at a bed and breakfast.
"The navigation system gave us problems and it took us through Ellis Park, where a Confederations Cup game was being played.
"We got lost and arrived very late at the bed and breakfast in Duxberry. The front entrance had been closed and we had to use an alternative entrance," said Michael Harriott.
The tourists said they noticed they were being followed as they made their way to the back entrance.
"A black Mercedes-Benz boxed us in and four men appeared with guns. They surrounded our car. They ordered us out of the car and told us to lie on the floor and remove our wallets and watches."
He tried to grab one of the robbers' guns but was punched in the nose.
"They threw me to the ground and, the next thing, one of the robbers got into our hired car, while the other three jumped in theirs. They sped off with our luggage."
"We were now stranded but we saw a Muslim prayer meeting and decided to ask for help. A friendly man named Mohammed showed us where the police station was."
The four men, although shocked, said they would remain in the country for the Test matches.
"Besides enjoying the rugby, the people who helped us with the incident were very friendly and helpful. This why we will stay," said Michael Harriott.
Meanwhile, Egyptian soccer players returned from their 1-0 upset victory over world champions Italy to find that cash had been stolen from five of their hotel rooms. It was not immediately clear how much money had been stolen, but the amount is believed to be the equivalent of several thousand dollars.
National police spokeswoman Director Sally De Beer said: "It must be stressed that they were not present in the hotel rooms at the time of the incident. Detectives from the Norwood police station are interacting with the team and will investigate further.
"The SAPS will also interact with the management of the hotel in question. We will take all measures possible, including liaising and co-operating with other role-players, to prevent a recurrence of an incident of this nature."
On Tuesday afternoon, after a rugby match between the Lions and the newly formed Eastern Cape rugby team the Southern Kings at the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, the stadium bar was robbed when five armed men held up staff and emptied the cash register. Fifa World Cup analyst and Brandovation CEO Nikolaus Eberl last week said South Africa's priority during the Confed Cup was to reverse the perception that the country was a crime hub.