Consulate robbery: warning for SA

INDIA has reminded South Africa that, in terms of the Vienna Convention, it has a duty to protect its diplomatic staff and property.

India’s Durban consulate sent this message to the South African government, after the family of consul-general Shashank Vikram, members of their domestic staff and a visiting teacher were held up in their official residence in Innes Road, Morningside.

Among them were two children, aged five and 10.

“They are OK but they were obviously traumatised,” said consul SK Pandey.

“Nobody suffered physical harm,” he said, adding that they planned to attend counselling.

Pandey said it was hoped that a domestic worker’s cellphone, which was taken, would be located and would provide clues.

“It’s the first big crime incident for us. Previously there were smaller burglaries. But Durban happens to be crimeprone.”

Department of International Relations and Co-operation spokesman Clayson Monyela called the incident “unfortunate”.

“It is a reality crime happens. It is not like certain people are targeted. Our diplomats are also victims of crime. We hope whoever was behind it is arrested and brought to book.”

The robbers reportedly gained entry by derailing the entrance gate, a strategy used repeatedly in a spate of brazen robberies in affluent suburbs north of Durban.

Kyle van Rensburg, spokesperson for Marshall Security, said he suspected robbers who had entered Durban North and uMhlanga premises by derailing gates, were from the same gang.

“They are using the same modus operandi, derailing gates, driving the same types of vehicles, holding up families if they are in, breaking through gates with crowbars and pick handles and going in and out very quickly.”

Van Rensburg noted that they went for light, valuable loot, like jewellery and contents of safes.

Blue Security spokesperson Andreas Mathios said they appeared to have good intelligence having “done their homework” and urged communities to develop their own local intelligence.