Two men were remanded in custody by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court on charges of attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, and aggravated robbery.
The suspects will reappear in court once investigations are complete.
The court heard that the two suspects, with an accomplice who is at large, allegedly robbed nine people at gunpoint on a plot in Glen Fernes, Midrand at midday on 26 January.
It is alleged that the three suspects entered the plot where the victims were working and pretended to be looking for someone. They allegedly then produced a firearm and robbed the group of their cellphones and an undisclosed amount of money. The suspects allegedly tied the victims up with cable ties and forced them toward a location on the plot in single file.
A neighbour on an adjacent plot witnessed the incident and called the community security patrol squad which responded to the scene after also calling in backup from Scorpion Security Services.
When the security agencies arrived on the scene they found one of the victims being beaten by the three men, who fled the scene when they saw the security guards. Although all three suspects tried to escape, two were cornered.
The men then shot at the guards but fortunately missed and were subsequently arrested.
The suspects’ firearms and victims’ cellphones were recovered at the scene, but not the stolen money.
Their accomplice is wanted by police.
