Ralph Bussel (40) and Hendrik Koekemoer (45), both instructors at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) at Arandis, found themselves staring into the barrels of several firearms shortly after booking into the Airport Grand Hotel in Boksburg last Sunday evening.

They were accompanying a group of their trainees who were taking part in a competition in Johannesburg and checked in at the hotel after 22h00, Bussel told The Namibian.

The trainees stayed at a different hotel.

An airport shuttle van transporting some 30 overseas tourists arrived shortly afterwards.

Minutes later, a group of about six men, who had reportedly been loitering in the reception area for a few hours, jumped into action wielding pistols and ordering everyone in the room to lie down on the floor.

The two Namibians made a beeline for the exit, but outside the door they ran into more armed men who forced them back inside.

In the next five to 10 minutes the gang robbed the clients and personnel in the foyer of their cellphones, cash and some other valuables before disappearing with the loot.

They didn't waste time by going through the luggage, said Bussel.

"As they ran away, we heard two shots being fired outside in the parking area.

No-one was hit or injured though."

The police were summoned, he said, but only arrived half an hour after the robbery while officials of a security company, presumably hired by the hotel, showed up even later.

"It was quite a nightmare," Bussel recalled, "everyone there suffered a terrible shock.

Thanks to my former experience in the Police force, I managed to stay calm through it all, but the tourists from overseas were extremely rattled."

He was told that some of them left the country on the next available flight.

"I didn't tell my family about the ordeal; I didn't want them to worry while I was still in Johannesburg, but the news reached them before I got home.

They're all very relieved that I'm unharmed."

According to the latest information received by Bussel, no arrests had been made by Friday.

Bussel and Koekemoer flew back home on Thursday and were back on the job the next day.

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