Two-hour stop turns unpleasant
Thieves ignore ‘code’ of not targeting disabled tourists
AMERICAN tourists Anna Possek, 62, and Igor Gitelman, 57, saw the best and worst of Durban during the two hours they spent in the city yesterday.
Possek and Gitelman had driven down from Pretoria and were on their way to Shelley Beach on the South Coast when they decided to stop at the beachfront.
Parked at the top of Pixley KaSeme (West) Street, they made their way to the beach to watch rehearsals by the SANDF for the Armed Forces Day celebration next week, when disaster struck.
“We had watched the demonstration and were walking back to the car when two men snatched the moon bag from Igor’s waist and ran away.
“We were not afraid, but did not know what to do next. It was our first time in Durban. The bag had all our valuables, including the keys to our hired car.
“When people near to the car realised what had happened, they all came to help. They phoned the police and helped Igor to find a seat,” said Possek.
Gitelman, who survived a brain aneurysm a few years ago, is disabled. Yet despite this, Possek said, they had travelled to many countries, including places with high crime rates, such as Rio de Janeiro, and in such cities there seemed to be an unspoken code that a disabled person was never a target
“We have been to many different areas, but because Igor carries our valuables, we felt safe. I suppose we became complacent,” said Possek.
Police arrived and escorted the couple to Point Police Station to make a statement.
“The police arrived within a few minutes. They took us around the block a few times to see if we could recognise the men and were checking the bins for our bags.
“It is our second time in South Africa, but first in Durban. So much happened in the two hours we were here. The police and the people have all been very helpful and kind. We have just lost some money and things, it is not that important. We love South Africa and we would come back.”
Diplomatic Police Unit officers at the scene said the search for the suspects was under way and that the hire car company had been contacted to assist the couple to continue their journey down the coast.