Shop owner held hostage

POLOKWANE – A local cash and carry business owner in the city was recently held hostage by three armed men who demanded all the cash on the premises before fleeing.

The business, which is in Excelsior Street, was robbed as shocked shoppers looked on.

According to Richard Mathai, one of the shoppers who was present, the three armed men entered the shop with their weapons at the ready.

They held the shop owner to ransom until they had all the money from the paypoints.

“It is scary to think back about the robbery; it makes one realise that one is not even safe while doing something routine like shopping. I am just glad that my wife and children were not with me and that no one was hurt during the robbery,” Mathai further said.

According to a recent report broadcasted by a local radio station, violent crimes are on the increase in the city.

This could not be confirmed by the Polokwane police, however.

Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala, said the police held meetings daily during which cases were discussed.

“Based on these meetings, we did not have an increase in these types of crimes and we urge business owners and residents to come forward with information of such crimes and open cases.

“Once such a case is opened, it will enable the police to have a better picture of which types of crimes should be concentrated on,” Phala said.

He confirmed that a case of armed robbery had been opened and was being investigated, but no arrests had yet been made.

Phala said businesses in the city should look into the installation of security cameras and report any suspicious people to the police in an effort to prevent robberies like this from happening.

He said regular crime meetings held between the police and businesses were proving to be helpful when information was exchanged, assisting in ensuring a decrease in the number or armed robberies at businesses.