20 white guests kidnapped in their bus from Mangwanani Spa to black squatter camp, assaulted by 3 blacks with R4 carbines

20 white guests were kidnapped to a black squattercamp near Atteridgeville while driving from Mangwanani Spa, all were assaulted by three black gunmen who carried military R4 attack carbines and who attacked their bus. ------------------ investigated by Atteridgveville police on 012-373 2400/09. ---------------- Guests and staff at Mangwanani Spa River Valley in Elandsfontein were left reeling after 20 guests and a bus driver were hijacked and robbed on Friday evening. According to Erin Limbert, CEO of Mangwanani Spas, one of their busses had left with the guests for Montecasino at 23:30. “Three men armed with R4s forced their way into the passenger door just as our bus turned onto the main Schurveberg Road and after passing the resort’s security booms. Security vehicles that usually escort our buses to the R511, did not accompany the bus and it was on its own,” said Limbert. The hijackers forced the bus driver, Desmond Kwinda, and a female passenger to the back of the bus with the other guests. They then drove to Moshongoville, a small informal settlement outside Atteridgeville, where they stopped in an open field. The hijackers forced all the guests to the ground, including a woman who was eight months pregnant and another woman with a leg injury. The woman with the injured leg was thrown out of the bus with considerable force, further injuring her leg. The pregnant woman was forced to lie on her stomach, to the concern of Kwinda and the other guests. All the guests were then beaten up for several hours by Kwinda’s estimation. The hijackers looted the guests, taking cell phones, money, jewellery, iPads, tablets, cameras and handbags before running away and firing two warning shots into the air as they fled. Kwinda rounded up the terrified guests, drove to the Douglasdale police station and reported the hijacking and robbery. He then took the guests to Montecasino, where they were originally headed. “Something like this has never happened before, and we are utterly shocked. I have since spoken to all the guests. The pregnant woman has seen her gynecologist and she and the baby are both well. The woman with the injured leg is also recovering. “Mangwanani is shocked and horrified by the incident and we would like to apologise to the guests for the ordeal. We are all disturbed by what they had endured and we will do whatever possible to alleviate some of the trauma.” said Limbert. Limbert added that extra security measures were now in place and a security escort will follow their buses at all times. (Not explained was why the security contingent which was supposed to accompany the bus to the R511 highway had suddenly disappeared). “A special mention needs to be made of Desmond Kwinda. He stood up, and tried to protect the guests from harm as best he could,” added Limbert. The case has since been transferred to Atteridgeville police who are investigating. Limbert has also called on anyone with information about the hijackers to step forward, and report what they know to Atteridgeville police on 012-373 2400/09.