Police have launched a manhunt for three armed men who shot and robbed two taxi passengers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo outside a hotel in Morningside‚ Sandton‚ on Sunday morning.

The victims‚ who are husband and wife‚ are in a serious but stable condition in a local hospital.

Gauteng police spokesman Captain Mavela Masondo said it was suspected that the robbers had followed the taxi from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport

“The taxi driver was dropping off the two guests at a hotel in West Road in Morningside just after 6am this morning when they were approached by three armed men in a white BMW.

“The men shot the couple and robbed them of their luggage‚ jewellery‚ cellphones and money. The couple – a husband and wife – were taken to a local hospital where they are in a serious but stable condition‚” Masondo said.

“We suspect the that they were followed from OR Tambo but that will form part of our investigation. We have launched a manhunt for the three suspects‚” he added.