The US Department of State has a permanent warning about using GPS systems in South Africa on it’s travel advisory page. It came too late for one couple, now locked in a legal battle with Google. (Sukanya Sitthikongsak/Getty Images)
Prospective US tourists to South Africa are now explicitly warned about the threat of being attacked while using GPS navigation systems in South Africa. The warning came too late for one US couple, locked in a legal tussle with Google after being attacked in Nyanga last year while following directions on Google Maps. Â
While on holiday in South Africa in October, Jason and Katharine Zoladtz were hijacked and robbed at gunpoint in Nyanga while being guided by Google Maps.
A brick was thrown through the window of their rental vehicle by one of a gang of armed assailants, shattering Jason’s jaw.
South Africans need to be in the know if we want to create a prosperous future. News24 has kept the country informed for 25 years, and we’re about to enter a new chapter of fearless journalism. Join our free subscription trial to unlock this story and a world of news aimed to inform, empower, and inspire.