By Daily News Reporters
Police on Wednesday appealed to the public to help track down the criminals who robbed Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The man who hopes to oust Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe's president in a few weeks' time was robbed of money, cellphones and laptops containing 'sensitive information' after he was followed from Gauteng's OR Tambo International Airport.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader was attacked at his party's offices in Bryanston.
Gauteng police spokesperson Thembi Nkwashu said Tsvangirai and two of his officials were outside their offices in Homestead Avenue at 6pm when they were confronted by three men armed with pistols.
"The robbers stole the three men's bags, laptops, cellphones, an undisclosed amount of Zimbabwean dollars and a file of documents.
"The robbers escaped in a white sedan that was waiting for them outside," she said.
"We have not spoken to Tsvangirai, but we can confirm that none of the officials was hurt," said Nkwashu.
One of the men robbed was Tsvangirai's aide, George Sibotshiwe.
Speaking to the Daily News on Tuesday night, Sibotshiwe said as they got out of their vehicle, they were surrounded by the gang who pointed firearms at them.
"They simply said to us that it was an armed robbery and we should give them everything we had," he said.
No one was injured in the attack, and no shots were fired.
Tsvangirai, who flew into South Africa to meet with supporters, was scheduled to leave the country on Wednesday.
Sibotshiwe said that Tsvangirai had only planned to spend the night in Johannesburg where he was meeting various people and holding "confidential meetings".
"He is fine. He is doing well and continuing on his business here in South Africa," he said.
Nkwashu said police were investigating a case of armed robbery. She said investigators were following up on leads.
Police said they hoped that with the help of the public and the community they would be able to make a breakthrough in the case.
Attacks on people who arrive in South Africa through OR Tambo International Airport have added to the country's image as a crime-ridden destination and have led to protests from the diplomatic community.
In November two foreign clergymen, in South Africa as guests of African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe, were ambushed by a gang after being followed from the airport to a block of flats near Ellis Park.
In another incident three visiting media heads were ambushed as their driver pulled up at the Sandton guesthouse where they were booked to stay.
The visitors were robbed of their laptops, money, luggage and passports.
Also last year SA's ambassador to the UN, Dumisani Kumalo, was ambushed at his son's home in Greenside after he returned from the airport and Khethang Lerata, the nuclear services manager of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA, was killed outside his Pretoria home when gunmen hijacked him and his driver after they returned from the airport.