Two men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested for allegedly committing a business robbery on Wednesday April 19 as some members of the Tonga Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations Unit (FCS) were busy with another investigation in the area.
According to a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the two suspects had entered a shop near Matsamo Mall at about 13:00.
He said one of the suspects had pretended to grab something from the shop’s refrigerator while the second one closed the store’s door and pulled out a firearm.
He said the armed suspect allegedly pointed the gun at the shop owner and ordered him to lie on the ground before the two stole an undisclosed amount of cash, a number of airtime vouchers and 10 packets of cigarettes, and exited the store through its back door.
ALSO READ: Alleged love triangle ends in death at lodge outside Mbombela
After they fled, the shop owner ran from the store and began calling for help.
Mohlala said as the Tonga FCS were already in the area, they followed up on the incident, tracked down the suspects and arrested them.
He said they were charged with robbery and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. They are expected to appear in the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court on Friday April 21.
