A Gauteng tour operator was allegedly hijacked recently after dropping international visitors at the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto, prompting concerns from the Gauteng Tour Operators Association (GaTOA) about the safety of tourism operators and visitors.
According to information received by GaTOA, the operator had just dropped off the visitors at the museum when he reversed into a parking bay allegedly indicated by a car guard. Moments later, the driver was accosted by armed criminals, one of whom was allegedly the individual who had directed him to park.
The suspects forced their way into the vehicle, assaulted and strangled the driver, compelled him to disclose banking credentials and passwords, and drove him around for approximately two hours before abandoning him in the Randfontein area. The tour vehicle, personal belongings, banking information and property belonging to the driver and his clients were allegedly stolen.
While the incident is now subject to a South African Police Service (SAPS) investigation, GaTOA said it raises serious concerns about the safety and security of tourists, tour operators and tourism workers visiting one of South Africa’s most significant heritage attractions.
However, the City of Johannesburg, which manages the museum, said the alleged incident did not take place on the museum’s primary grounds and that it has not yet been verified.
“It reportedly occurred in the public parking lot situated on Moema Street, across Khumalo Street and past the traffic lights,” City of Johannesburg Spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane told Tourism Update.
Modingoane said museum management first became aware of the allegation on August 1 at 19h12 when the Chief Curator received a forwarded text message from a Johannesburg tourism company staff member.
“Upon receiving this message, the Chief Curator immediately conducted on-site enquiries with local crafters working in that exact vicinity. They reported that no such incident had taken place. We are currently treating this as an unverified allegation while authorities investigate,” said Modingoane.
The museum launched internal enquiries that same evening to verify the claims with local stakeholders on the ground, he added.
Security
The city said the museum has extensive security measures in place.
“The Hector Pieterson Museum maintains rigorous security protocols. The facility is protected by a private security firm contracted through the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), which deploys four armed security officers per shift, 24/7. Additionally, the premises are monitored by a comprehensive CCTV surveillance network consisting of 32 cameras,” said Modingoane.
The city also said the alleged car guard involved in the incident was not affiliated with the museum.
“The museum does not employ, contract or authorise car guards. Any individuals operating in the surrounding public streets are informal operators acting entirely independently,” said Modingoane.
The specific municipal parking area where the alleged incident occurred does not have museum-assigned personnel or authorised guards, he pointed out.
The city said the museum is cooperating fully with law enforcement.
“We await the formal outcome of the SAPS investigation to conclusively establish the facts of what transpired,” said Modingoane.
Tourism impact
GaTOA Chairman Victor Sibeko said the association has repeatedly called for the establishment and visible deployment of dedicated tourism police while also calling for tourism ambassadors to be visibly deployed and supported.
“This is a major concern and yet another blow to an already bleeding tourism industry. We have repeatedly called for the establishment and visible deployment of dedicated tourism police but our concerns have not been treated with the urgency they deserve. Every incident of this nature damages South Africa’s tourism reputation and erodes the confidence of local and international visitors,” said Sibeko.
The situation requires a coordinated response involving museum management, law enforcement agencies, tourism ambassadors, local art and craft vendors, community leaders and businesses operating in the vicinity, he added.
GaTOA warned that, unless decisive interventions are implemented, tour operators may reconsider bringing visitors to the museum.
“If these criminal activities continue unchecked, our members will be forced to avoid bringing tourists to the Hector Pieterson Museum. While this is not our preferred option, the safety of our clients and tourism professionals must always come first,” said Sibeko.
The association said such an outcome would have severe economic consequences for the museum, local art and craft vendors, restaurants, guides, transport operators and numerous small businesses that depend on tourism.
The city said no security concerns specifically relating to the museum have been raised by tour operators in the past six years.
“While industry stakeholders have previously raised broader safety concerns regarding the greater Vilakazi Street precinct – which the city monitors closely – the museum precinct has maintained an excellent safety record,” said Modingoane.
The city said it will review its security protocols once the police investigation has established what happened.
“The safety of our visitors is our highest priority. While preliminary internal reviews cast doubt on whether the incident occurred at the reported location, we take all allegations seriously. We are awaiting the final SAPS investigation report and will collaborate with the JMPD to review and, if necessary, tighten our precinct security protocols based on those findings,” said Modingoane.
The city is also reassuring international tour operators that the museum remains safe for visitors.
“The Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial remains one of the City of Johannesburg’s premier heritage institutions, safely welcoming thousands of local and international visitors weekly, including foreign heads of state and VVIP delegations hosted by The Presidency and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The City of Johannesburg and museum management remain unflinchingly committed to maintaining a safe, secure and world-class environment for all tour operators and global visitors,” said Modingoane.
