A manhunt has been launched for the armed robbers who broke into the home of former International Affairs Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor. 

“Lieutenant General Dimpane has also called for a manhunt following an armed robbery and housebreaking incident at the home of former Cabinet Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor,” read the National South African Police Services statement.

It‘s believed that Pandor and her husband were among the occupants at her Pretoria home when suspects wearing balaclavas broke in on Friday night and held the occupants at gunpoint before ransacking the home. 

The incident happened hours after Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, shared the national crime statistics, during which time a 18.3% reduction was recorded in the number of cases of robbery at residential premises, between January and March this year.

According to News24, the suspects fled with valuables and the family’s vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Mamelodi East. 

The Acting National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, said officers will visit the family to update them on the investigation. 

“Police are working around the clock to trace and apprehend those responsible.”

Dimpane further noted that the District Commissioner of Tshwane, Major General Samuel Thine, who is visiting the Pandor family, will also be assessing police interventions around housebreaking and property-related crimes.