ANC Member of Parliament, Anthea Ramolobeng, became a victim of the prevalent crime that plagues many South Africans when she was robbed by criminals at a filling station in Midrand. According to a police statement, the robbers made off with her Parliament-issued iPhone 14 Pro Max, valued at R35,000. Ramolobeng, who serves on Parliament's Safety and Security Committee, expressed her shock and distress, as she believed she was in a safe environment.
The incident unfolded as Ramolobeng stopped at a petrol station in Noordwyk, Midrand, to refuel her vehicle around 7 pm. After the petrol attendant finished filling the tank, she asked him to check the tires. Unbeknownst to her, an unidentified vehicle had been observing her. While she was on a phone call, one of the assailants swiftly approached and snatched the phone from her ear before fleeing into a waiting car, which sped away. The MP explained that the incident happened so quickly that she was unable to identify the perpetrator or their accomplices.
Ramolobeng reported the incident to the police, expressing uncertainty about whether she was targeted due to her position. She found the incident suspicious since there were other valuable items in her car that the criminals could have taken. The police statement reads, "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."
Recognizing the potential risk of compromised information, the station commander has instructed his colleagues to prioritize the case and ensure the swift apprehension of the culprits. Government officials and Members of Parliament often synchronize their email accounts with their phones, raising concerns that the thieves may attempt to access sensitive information from apps such as WhatsApp and emails.
CCTV footage from the Engen garage has been obtained by the police, confirming that the criminals used a stolen vehicle.
