According to the police, three armed men entered the store at 10:00 on August 1, and held the manager, Lizzy Kekana, and three other assistants hostage.
Kekana and Francina Nkoana who had just returned from the bank was busy with admin work when one of the men, entered the office and ordered them to lie on the floor. The offender demanded the key to the safe. Nkoana said his face was hidden with a scarf, and terrified of being killed, gave him the keys. Nkoana told Die Pos that he had a weapon and was sure he would have used it if she refused.
The robber’s accomplice was in another room with the shop assistant, Given Phalai. Apparently, Palani was getting a cell phone for a customer and thought the killer was joking when he was ordered to lie down. “I told him that no unauthorized person was allowed in this room. The robber became angry and threw me on the floor. Another man holding three large bags began to throw cell phones in, made a call from his phone, and ran off.” Phalani said.
According to Kekana, the robbers were extremely aggressive and annoyed because there was no cash in the safe.
The other assistant Audry Phasa was also forced to lie down. At that time, the four customers who were in the shop at the time and who asked to remain anonymous were held captive but managed to call for help. It was a confusing and scary time for both staff and customers.
The robbers made a dash in a white BMW and stopped the car outside Modimolle in Phagameng. The police were in pursuit and arrested one of the suspects. The other two managed to escape and later arrested. The police thanked the community for their assistance in helping to capture the two escaped robbers.
The suspects were respectively 29 and 35 years old. Three handguns and cable ties were found in the BMW. According to Ledwaba, the suspects are connected to several other armed robberies in the Waterberg area, and the investigation continues.
* In a separate case, on Saturday, July 30, three shop owners in Mookgophong were also the victims of crime. Two of the victims, a man, and his wife are in a critical condition in a Polokwane hospital after being shot several times. The other victim was shot when he tried to flee from two of the armed robbers. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen. At this stage, the victims’ names may not be published, said Ledwaba. They are respectively from Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.
The police of Mookgophong have requested the community to inform the police immediately of any information relating to the above cases by phoning (014) 743 9000.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
