The Pan African Parliament has expressed concern about the exposure of its members and staff to crime in South Africa.
PAP President Gertrude Mongella said both delegates from other countries and staff had been victims of crime since the Parliament’s inception.
"There is so much insecurity, we had several incidents of robbery, sometimes at gunpoint with members and staff members being threatened," she said today.
She was speaking to reporters ahead of the Parliament’s second session that will take place from 15 to 26 October.
She said she did not believe that criminals were necessarily targeting PAP Parliamentarians or officials but that it was rather because of the "risk area we are working in".
Mongella cited several examples including a Congolese delegate who had her handbag grabbed from her as she was filling out forms at a check-in desk and of Ugandan delegates who were robbed at gunpoint while having dinner at a hotel.
The latest incident happened on Wednesday morning when a member of staff was robbed at gunpoint in the complex he is living in near PAP’s premises in Midrand.
"It is part of the situation we are in... South Africa comes out of a very difficult history which sometimes has spilt over in some of the problems," Mongella said.
She said PAP was working with SA authorities to see what more could be done to secure the safety of delegates and members.
Mongella said the crime problem was not unique to SA and that the Parliament had no plans to move.
"Otherwise PAP would be like babies - (every time) when there are problems we run, where we are going to run to?" she asked.
