Businessman critical after armed robbery outside Ballito

A 63-year-old Chinese clothing factory owner and his factory manager were forced off the road, before being shot at and robbed outside Ballito in KZN this morning.

Xiuchen Li and his factory manager Shiran Rathnayck were travelling from Pietermaritzburg to Isithebe in Mandeni.

While driving on the P445, opposite The Beaches Primary School, they were confronted by an unknown number of armed robbers.

“We were en route to Isithebe to pick up some of my belongings as I stayed there, and planned to return today. As we drove past Ballito, a car pulled up beside us, blocking our path, and shot my boss,” says Rathnayck.

The attackers then grabbed their mobile phones and money. Rathnayck could not recall how many assailants there were.

“We thought they might want the car, but that seemingly was not the case. I believe they had been following us for some time,” says Rathnayck.

Samantha Mayrick of IPSS Medical Rescue says Li was found in critical condition and was stabilised by paramedics before being transported to hospital.

Police were on the scene collecting evidence.