Top ANC man shot in South Africa robbery

Johannesburg (AFP) - A top member of South Africa's ruling ANC was shot during a robbery after he was accosted while withdrawing cash, police said on Monday.

Jackson Mthembu, a member of parliament and former spokesman of the African National Congress (ANC) was shot on Sunday in the town of Witbank, east of Johannesburg, while getting cash from an ATM machine.

Police said he was approached by a robber who demanded that he withdraw all his money. A firearm went off during the confrontation, striking Mthembu in the cheek.

"Mthembu was rushed to hospital and is said to be in a stable condition," said police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

Mohlala said a case of armed robbery was being investigated and no one had been arrested.

South African is known for a high number of violent crimes, and official figures released last month showed that more than 17,000 people were killed in the last year.