Mmusi Maimane says he was cleaned out in France hotel

Build One SA leader Mmusi Maimane has revealed he was a victim of theft during a recent trip to France.

Maimane shared the news via a WhatsApp status on Sunday without giving specific details of the incident. He noted that while South Africa is often ranked among the most dangerous countries in the world, his experiences at hotels in South Africa have been secure.

He wrote that he has stayed in many hotels in South Africa and never had valuables or cash stolen, but after spending time in France, he was cleaned out.

When asked for further details, Maimane declined to elaborate, saying he wanted to keep the matter personal.

This is not the first time the political leader has dealt with crime. In 2022, Maimane experienced an armed robbery at a restaurant in Claremont, Cape Town. Three gun-wielding suspects entered the establishment, ordered patrons to lie on the floor and took their belongings. Maimane had his watch stolen.

At the time, he said crime does not inspire confidence in anyone to invest or live in the country. He added that crime is a serious driver of disinvestment and that financial capital will not move to South Africa until crime is addressed. He also warned that crime will hurt tourism and job creation.