Tanzanian Envoy Attacked During Robbery, Wife Stabbed

Tanzania's ambassador to South Africa was beaten unconscious and several of his guests were assaulted and robbed at his farewell dinner in Pretoria on Friday night.

About five armed men pushed aside the barbed wire and jumped over the wall of a diplomatic residence in Garsfontein, Pretoria, at about 10pm, a government official at the function told the South African Press Association on Saturday morning.

"There were about 25 of us and we had just had supper. They ordered us to lie down, tied our hands, robbed us of cellphones, money and household goods," said the official, who asked not to be named.

He said Tanzania's High Commissioner Emmanuel Mwambulukutu was beaten unconscious and his wife stabbed in the head. Both were taken to hospital.

"Quite a few people were assaulted, hit with bottles. They kept threatening my 15-year-old daughter with rape."

The robbers brandished weapons but no shots were fired. They made off in the Mr Mwambulukutu's own Mercedes car after beating up another guest when they failed to start his Audi, according to the official, who was not named.

    
We don't care for God. Let's stab these dogs
The robbers, as quoted by a victim

Police located the high commissioner's car using its satellite tracking device and arrested one man. He was shot and wounded in the process, and taken to hospital under police guard.

Police say they are hunting his accomplices.