On Tuesday 25 May 2010 at approximately 18h30 certain members of the Colombian National Football team, in South Africa to play a friendly against Bafana Bafana, reported to management of the Hyde Park Southern Sun Hotel that money was missing from luggage in five of their rooms.
Police responding to the report from hotel management instituted an immediate investigation on the basis of an affidavit submitted by the team manager on behalf of the affected players who were not immediately available to make statements. It was established that the safes in the rooms were not utilised during the team’s absence between 15h30 and 18h30, when they had a training session, only three persons had access to their hotel rooms. These three individuals were cleaning staff personnel and they were arrested on suspicion of theft.
The prosecuting authority decided to prosecute two of the arrested women, who were employed as cleaners and withdraw charges against the third, who was a supervisor. The two accused, Jeneath Mashimbyi (29 years) and Ayanda Maseko (21 years) appeared in court and the case has been remanded to 3 June 2010 for a bail application.
It must be emphasised that the crime that was allegedly committed was the minor offence of “theft”, which entails the removal of the victim’s property without his or her consent and without the use of violence. In this instance the victims were not even in the vicinity when the alleged offence took place. Media reports that the team members were “robbed” are therefore completely incorrect as a robbery involves the use of violence or threats of violence, usually with a weapon, to overcome any resistance on the part of a victim who is present during the commission of the crime.
The team members involved have indicated that they are not prepared to furnish the SAPS with sworn statements and are leaving the country today. However, detectives will continue with their investigations to present a case to the court.
A front page article in a daily newspaper today unfairly links this incident to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and insinuates that it can cause embarrassment to police management. In fact, police management is very satisfied with the professional investigation by detectives. It must be emphasised that a theft inside a hotel room, allegedly committed by staff employed by a service provider to that hotel, could never have been prevented by the police.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) is operational and presently coordinating all security operations as teams arrive and start moving around the country. All operations are running smoothly and will intensify over the next several weeks. This isolated incident, which is not linked to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and which has been dealt with efficiently, should therefore not be sensationalised in an attempt to tarnish this wonderful tournament which has South Africa abuzz with excitement.
Enquiries
Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658
Issued by: Ministry of Police
28 May 2010
Source: South African Police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za/)
