By Agreement Mabunda
GIYANI -Three suspects aged between 23 and 49 were apprehended shortly after being involved in a business robbery at Blinkwater village on Thursday 04 April 2024 at about 14:30.
It is alleged that a 28-year-old employee of a local General Dealer was alone inside the premises when a silver blue Hyundai motor vehicle bearing Gauteng registration numbers entered the business yard with four occupants
Three suspects alighted from the motor vehicle and entered the shop. One of the suspects produced a firearm pointed a 28-year-old woman and instructed her to lie down. Before she could lie down, one of the suspects instructed the victim to sell him airtime from the flash machine for the amount of three hundred Rands.
The trio managed to steal cellphones, cosmetics estimated at R3000-00 and an undisclosed amount of money and later fled the scene driving the Hyundai motor vehicle. It is alleged that afterwards, the owner of the shop was informed about the robbery at the shop and the location of the suspect’s motor vehicle that took the direction of Olifantshoek village.
The owner followed the information and subsequently found the suspects driving along the Olifantshoek gravel road and blocking their motor vehicle. He went out of his motor vehicle and one of the suspects produced a firearm and pointed it at him. Suddenly, the owner also pulled out his firearm and shot the suspect who fell.
The other three suspects allegedly surrendered and the owner of the robbed shop tied the trio with a rope. Police were summoned at the scene and upon their arrival discovered one male suspect lying on the ground in a pool of blood. The members of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were called for medical assistance but a 22-year-old suspect was declared dead on arrival.
The three accomplices were placed under arrest and one firearm was also seized during their apprehension.
The case of possession of an unlicensed firearm was opened as part of the investigation on this matter and three suspects are expected to appear before the Giyani Magistrate court on Monday 08 April 2024 facing a charge of business robbery.
