Attempted Robbery In Cape Town

[pastafreak]

Not successfully thank goodness. 

Daughter and her partner being driven back from day trip to a wildlife park. Already dark...suddenly a rock shatters the window on my daughter's side. Glass everywhere. The driver didn't stop...a good thing as it's assumed robbery at gunpoint would have occurred if he had.

Daughter shaken, but otherwise OK. They stopped at a petrol station...they were asked if they were OK. Another man said his wife had been robbed earlier on the same stretch of road.

I'd been doing the worried mum bit because her phone was off...apparently stuffed down her bra. A recommended measure apparently.

I need a drink now...

[jno]

I went to a fairly posh official dinner in Joburg once. They picked us up in the company van - and then asked us all to sit on the floor so nobody could see us as we were driven. I survived to tell the tale but yes, a bit scary.

On the other hand, I was driven through Soweto once. Winnie Mandela gave us a big wave as we drove past her house; she was just putting the rubbish out.

[pastafreak]

Thanks again everyone. Those are some interesting memories jno.

I think daughter just hit the beer on their return to the hotel. Perfectly reasonable 😄

[Smowball]

Omg pasta! Thank goodness they are ok! x

[Prudie]

What a worry for them and you Pasta, so pleased they are OK. The impact of that kind of thing can be long lasting. SA has long been known as dangerous and I'd be too scared to go there. Since we were mugged on a beach in the middle of the day in the Caribbean I've never wanted to travel anywhere that I was going to be more nervous than normal, if you get my drift. Not my idea of a holiday anymore.

[davebro3]

I met a South African guy here a while back. He escaped an attempted car jacking / kidnapping (of his wife & kids). He couldn't accept that level of danger - he sold his business there and resettled in the UK.

[pastafreak]

Prudie, I worry every time they go travelling...but more so this time. I hope they don't have anymore excursions like this one. 🤞

[pastafreak]

Oh gosh Dave, that's awful. I don't blame him. I have a friend who used to have a house in SA...they visited it for a month...Nov to Dec...every year. She never mentioned the dangers. Though she might have been near Johannesburg...I'm not sure.

[ToraToraTora]

why would anyone visit such a place?

[ToraToraTora]

a friend of mine has an apartment near cape town, his MIL live there. Anyway when they last went he sent me a picture of a bullet hole in his door and he found the bullet in their lounge. Every time he goes he tells me another tale of woe.

 

[237SJ]

The first time I went there I ordered a hire car at the hotel, drove to table mountain and then on to Hermanas to see the whales on my own.  I must have been mad - wouldn't do it now.

[pastafreak]

TTT...I gather the city itself is beautiful and vibrant. Daughter has had it on her go-to list. I thought she was mad when she announced they were going. 🤷‍♀️

[Rosetta]

That must of been terrifying for them and I am glad they came out of it unscathed, Cape Town has the reputation of being a bit safer than other areas like Jo'burg, but obviously locals are well versed in trying to keep visitors as safe as they can. Many locals will be reliant on tourism for their livelyhoods so its bad news for them too. I hope the rest of their stay is safe and enjoyable. I bet its wonderful seeing the animals in their natural habitats