It is alleged that the incident happened at about 01:30. Security officials at the mall were on patrol in different spots around the premises when one of them noticed a group of suspicious people running towards the other guard.
The security guard who saw the suspicious men ran to the nearest fuel station to phone the police. According to the statement, the police reacted swiftly and attended to the scene. The suspects were intercepted and opened fire on the police who returned fire. Seven shops had been broken into when the police arrived.
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In two of the shops, broken into, explosives were used to break open safes. A preliminary investigation shows that in the other stores cellphones and clothes were stolen while a till was broken and money was taken.
According to the police, substantial damages were caused by the forceful break-in at all the shops. The exact damages are still being assessed by the mall management and the police are well under way with their investigation which led to seven alleged suspects that have been taken in for questioning.
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The acting provincial commissioner of Mpumalanga, Maj Gen Buti Lekubu, has condemned the incident.
“This is a setback to community as the damages to the shops mean the community must travel futher away to purchase goodies,” he said. Lekubu appealed to the public that anyone who might have information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact Tonga SAPS on 082 448 9481 or 086 001 0111.
