SA businessman attacked, robbed at Swakopmund

A South African businessman was attacked and robbed at Swakopmund on Thursday, about 200m from the spot where a German woman was murdered in cold blood six days earlier.

Gunther Morgenstern (63), from Cape Town, was attacked from behind by two men and robbed of his cellphone and wallet in the public toilet behind the jetty at around 14h00. Morgenstern told The Namibian he had just entered the toilet when he was grabbed from behind by a very muscular man.He instinctively started fighting back.”I immediately realised it was a dangerous situation and would have to fight for my life,” he said.The businessman and his two assailants fell to the floor wrestling.”The one man was still holding me and the other one took my cellphone and wallet from my pocket.”He said they probably thought he was unconscious and ran off.Morgenstern, who sustained bruises on his face and body, as well as a badly sprained wrist, managed to get up and trailed his assailants in his car.He stopped at the aquarium and called the Police.The two thieves had ran back to the beach and disappeared.Morgenstern’s wallet was found later the same day when someone picked it up in the street in front of the Europahof Hotel.”They only took about N$500 in cash and left all my cards, as well as a R100 note.”The businessman praised the Police for being very helpful, but said visitors to Swakopmund should be better warned about the beach area.”I was very fortunate,” he said.Morgenstern told The Namibian he had just entered the toilet when he was grabbed from behind by a very muscular man.He instinctively started fighting back.”I immediately realised it was a dangerous situation and would have to fight for my life,” he said.The businessman and his two assailants fell to the floor wrestling.”The one man was still holding me and the other one took my cellphone and wallet from my pocket.”He said they probably thought he was unconscious and ran off.Morgenstern, who sustained bruises on his face and body, as well as a badly sprained wrist, managed to get up and trailed his assailants in his car.He stopped at the aquarium and called the Police.The two thieves had ran back to the beach and disappeared. Morgenstern’s wallet was found later the same day when someone picked it up in the street in front of the Europahof Hotel.”They only took about N$500 in cash and left all my cards, as well as a R100 note.”The businessman praised the Police for being very helpful, but said visitors to Swakopmund should be better warned about the beach area.”I was very fortunate,” he said.