Dutch tourists cut South Africa holiday short after armed robbery

A group of 36 Dutch tourists who were robbed shortly after arriving in South Africa for a 22 day holiday on Sunday, are flying back to the Netherlands on Tuesday night. They are set to arrive at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Wednesday morning, AD reports.

The tourists, most of them over the age of 60 plus a young couple on their honeymoon, were on their tour bus on the way from the airport to their first hotel in Johannesburg, when they were robbed by five armed men dressed as police officers. They booked a 22 day long tour through the country with Fox, part of the ANWB. On Monday they were asked whether they wanted to continue their holiday, or return home. The group unanimously chose for heading back to the Netherlands, ANWB spokesperson Ad Vonk said to the newspaper.

"Many of them have nothing there because the robbers too all the luggage. The people are also very shaken up", Vonk said. Two of the passengers sustained minor injuries when the robbers attacked them for not giving up their money and jewelry quickly enough, he added. "They were medically examined, but nothing more is wrong with them. Three travelers need new passports because their documents were between the items they had to give up."

Police officers went to the Zulu Nyala Manor Hotel in Johannesburg, where the tourists are staying, to take their statements on Monday afternoon.