Tourist robbed at hotel after arrival from airport

A Nigerian tourist was robbed of his briefcase on his arrival at Johannesburg's Westcliff Hotel from O R Tambo International Airport, police said.

Another two tourists, who were in the reception area checking out at the time, were also robbed of their bags at 6.30am, said spokesperson Cynthia Mogoai.

Mogoai said four robbers were driving in a white BMW 3-series.

"One suspect held up a guard at the gate, two of them went into the reception area and one remained in the car. They took a briefcase from a man checking in at the time as well as a couple's luggage," said Mogoai.

Mogoai said the man checking in was on a business trip from Nigeria and confirmed the man was from the airport. She, however, could not confirm whether this was part of a syndicate targeting air travellers. "We cannot confirm that he was followed from the airport but we are investigating."

Hotel spokesperson Gabrielle Palmer said the couple had since left the hotel to carry on with their travels.

There has been a recent spate of robberies in the country involving people travelling from the airport by road.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Vish Naidoo said on Monday that there was no evidence of a syndicate targeting air travellers. - Sapa