Cape Town- A Dutch-Thai couple who were robbed of €9 000 (R176 000), their passports and jewellery and were assaulted in the Cape Town CBD, are pleading with authorities to help them get back home as they find themselves stranded in the country.
The couple, who asked for their names to be withheld, are currently staying at a guest house in Stellenbosch.
The 71-year-old man from Amsterdam and his partner, 57, from Thailand, had been in Cape Town for just three days when they were robbed and attacked while sightseeing on Monday.
The couple said they were unable to find a Thai Embassy or authorities to help them and have been told to travel as far as Pretoria in order to get new passports.
The male tourist, who spoke in Dutch with the Cape Argus, said he was pleading for help to find their way home.
“We do not care so much about the assets. What is important is to have our passports so that we can get back home.”
The woman was wounded on her arms and thighs after attempting to fight off the robber who grabbed her “moon bag”, which contained the €9 000 and their personal documentation.
The couple were renting a vehicle and had parked nearby the Cape of Good Hope Castle when they were attacked and robbed.
Latoyah Visagie, a worker at the guest house who has been assisting the couple, said they were devastated and helpless following the attack.
“They had left the guest house to do sightseeing at the Castle and CBD and said they were walking on the opposite side of the railway line when three black males began robbing them by grabbing the man’s gold chain and the woman bracelet,” she explained.
“They were at the German Embassy (yesterday) after the incident but have been told they must go to Pretoria as there is no embassy here to help the woman from Thailand.
“They also said they had to wait for four hours at the police station.”
“How is this couple supposed to get to Pretoria as they have lost their money and their driver’s licence as they are using a rental car?
“We are appealing for help for them as they want to get back home and we have provided them with additional days at the guest house.”
Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, confirmed an arrest in the case and that the personal belongings were taken.
“This office can confirm that an assault and common robbery case was recorded at Cape Town Central,” he said. Van Wyk said a 37-year-old male was arrested following the incident and is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of robbery.
Anyone with further information related to the matter can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or 021 467 8001.
The Cape Argus also reached out to the Cape Town Central Improvement District and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation for comment but have yet to receive feedback.