The Foreign Affairs Department yesterday condemned the attack on South Africa's ambassador to the UN when he returned to his home in Johannesburg.

The Foreign Affairs Department yesterday condemned the attack on South Africa's ambassador to the UN when he returned to his home in Johannesburg.

Spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said the criminal attack at the weekend on Dumisani Kumalo and his family should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

"We are confident the hunt for the perpetrators of this cowardly attack and other similar attacks would be followed through.

"It is a challenge, not only for police, but for the entire community to make sure these elements face the might of the law," he said.

The incident happened after Kumalo had arrived at his son Mandla's home in Greenside from OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday night.

Three men held up the ambassador and other guests in the driveway and demanded wallets, cellphones and the luggage in Kumalo's car.

A man, believed to be a guest, was also shot and wounded in the abdomen.

Police said they were still searching for the three men who held up Kumalo.

"Our investigation is continuing. We are probing a robbery and attempted murder," said Johannesburg police spokesman Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini.

Sybil Seato, Inkatha Freedom Party MP, said South Africa was losing the fight against crime.

She said the effectiveness of the government's crime combating operations should be questioned in the light of numerous recent high-profile attacks on tourists and well-known South Africans. - Sapa