UPDATE: A taxi driver was shot during the attempted armed robbery in central Pinetown on Tuesday, 30 June at 12pm.
According to Slindle Shabalala of the Pinetown SAPS, three employees from the Simunye store were in a white BMW on their way to deposit money at the bank. As they drove down Haven Road, a taxi blocked their way.
“Two men approached them. An altercation ensued between the taxi driver and one of the men. The taxi driver was shot by the suspect. A witness saw the man with a revolver and heard two shots go off before noticing a white Tazz behind the BMW. The driver of the BMW stopped outside the Simunye store to get help. He and a passenger, who was beaten with the firearm, were transported to a nearby hospital. The third employee in the back of the BMW grabbed the cash and ran into the store for safety,” said Shabalala.
A docket was opened by CFC Crime Room detectives. The charges were robbery using a firearm, attempted hijacking and hijacking. No arrests have been made and police are still investigating.
Around 12.05pm the same day, police received a report about a man driving a Nissan 1400 bakkie who was hijacked by two men on the on-ramp to Richmond Road on the M13. The men’s clothing had splatters of blood on. Shabalala said police believe there is a possible link between the two cases.
Man shot in attempted armed robbery
A PASSER-BY was seriously wounded in a shooting during an attempted armed robbery in central Pinetown on Tuesday afternoon.
According to a, communications officer at Pinetown SAPS, about eight men had been waiting in a white minibus for the owner of the Simunye Store on Josiah Gumede (Old Main) Road to walk to her parked car with the weekend’s takings. They rushed out, began shooting wildly and unfortunately shot a passer-by. The owner of the store ran back inside her shop for safety.Police are uncertain how the shooting occurred, however confirmed that one man was wounded.
“It is believed the gang climbed back into the taxi and drove off, leaving two of the robbers behind, who then ran towards Anderson Street. We believe that they had run a fair distance away from the store before hijacking a bakkie and fleeing the scene,” she said.
No arrests have been made.
Updates to follow.
