R60 000 taken in heist

Police on the hunt for the two suspects

EAST London police are searching for two men accused of robbing a travel agency businessman of R60 000 at gunpoint in the foyer of the East London Road Lodge Hotel.

The robbery last Wednesday took place in front of three staff members and a manager of the Road Lodge. The complainant in the case, Thompson Muyiwa, said the police investigation was being hindered because the hotel did not have CCTV cameras.

Muyiwa said he withdrew the cash from a bank in Beacon Bay Retail Park before taking it to the Road Lodge to pay for bookings on behalf of more than 50 Eastern Cape government employees due to stay there for two days.

He said he had visited the establishment two days prior to the incident to pay a deposit of R30 000. He said he would return on the Wednesday to settle the balance as guests were expected to arrive later that day.

Muyiwa showed the Saturday Dispatch proof of the slip from the bank showing the amount he withdrew on the day of the robbery.

He said he had gone to the hotel to pay in cash because he had not expected to be robbed.

He said he arrived at the hotel at 3pm and went into the foyer where two women and a man were behind the desk. The manager was in his office.

“I was there for about three minutes when the thieves came in and pointed a gun at me. They then took the R60 000 and they left the foyer.”

Muyiwa said he could not understand how the men were allowed to leave the premises because of the access control. “When you enter Road Lodge, the electric gate is opened for you. It is the same thing when you leave. They have to open the gate for you,” he said.

He said police later arrived on the scene and when they asked about video-footage of the incident, the Lodge advised they did not have a camera. “We are stuck now and they are saying that their insurance does not cover things like this,” Muyiwa said.

He added that alternative arrangements were made for his clients to stay at the venue.

City Lodge Hotel Group spokesman Angus Macmillan said the robbery was being handled by police. “As a matter of course, it is our group’s policy not to handle large amounts of cash or to comment on details of matters relating to bookings at our hotels. However, I can confirm that the hotel did have security guards on duty on the premises when this alleged incident took place.”

Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said the gunmen were still at large. Mqala said a case of robbery with a firearm was being investigated. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za