ANC Member of Parliament, Anthea Ramolobeng, felt the brunt of crime currently experienced by most South Africans in the country. The MP was robbed by thugs on Tuesday at a filling station in Midrand. The robbers according to a police statement, seen by ZiMoja, made away with her Parliamment-allocated cellphone, an iPhone 14 Pro Max worth R35 000. Ramolobeng, who is a member of Parliament? 's Safety and Security Committee told the police she was left shaken to the core by the incident describing it as the most unexpected thing to have happened as she felt she was at a safer place.
HOW IT HAPPENED
According to a police statement, Ramolobeng had stopped at a garage in Nooordwyk, Midrand, to fill up her tank at around 7 pm. She said immediately after the petrol attendant was done pouring the juice into her car, she asked him to check the tyres. She said it was at this moment that she received a phone call but unbeknown to her, a car with an unknown car registration had been scouting her. She said while talking on the phone, one of the thugs came out of nowhere and grabbed her phone from her ear and ran into a car and sped off. The Member of Parliament said the incident happened so fast that she didn't have the chance to identify the culprit, let alone his accomplices.
PARLIAMENT IPHONE 14 PRO MAX STOLEN
Ramolobeng told the police she was not certain if she was targeted due to her work but said the incident was suspicious, indicating that there were many other things that the thugs could have taken in the car because the windows of her car were opened. "The complainant alleges that she was at Engen Garage, Lever Road at Noordwyk next to Noordwyk Spar, busy talking on a cellphone and the petrol attendant busy checking the water on her vehicle. The window of the car was open. An unknown African male came from behind and grabbed the cellphone out of her hand and ran away and entered a white Honda unknown model and unknown Registration number. The iPhone 14 Promax belongs to Parliament and to the value of R35 000, " reads part of the police statement.
COMMANDER URGES POLICE TO PRIORITISE CASE
Zimoja understands that the station commander has instructed his colleagues to attend to the case urgently and ensure that the culprits are arrested before any information about the stolen device is compromised. According to a police official close to the case, there are fears that the thugs might be able to crack open the phone and gain access to sensitive information from WhatsApp and emails as most government officials and Member of Parliament synchronise their email to be accessible on phones.
CCTV FOOTAGE CONFIRMS THUGS USED STOLEN CAR
Zimoja understands that the police have obtained CCTV footage from Engen garage but have since discovered the car which was used by thugs was reported stolen. "A common robbery case has been opened for further investigations and suspects are unknown at this stage," said police spokesperson,Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.
