Two robbers and a civilian were shot dead and two guards from SBV Cash-in-Transit injured during an attempted robbery earlier this week.
Crowds gathered, as police searched every corner of the scene in the parking area in front op Shoprite Checkers for evidence of the bloody shootout.
The yellow markers, pointing out the cartridge casings on the scene, told the tale of the shootout between the robbers and the guards on Tuesday, January 28. More than 50 AK47 and 9mm pistol cartridge casings were counted.
It is believed that one of the robbers was in Nando’s pretending to buy food, another at House & Home acting as if he was interested in furniture, one in the getaway car, while others were waiting outside.
The guards in the cash-in-transit van were on their way to First National Bank to drop money off when the robbers moved in and started firing shots.
The guards retaliated and shot the robber in Nando’s and the second one at the entrance of the grocery store.
Video footage from Shoprite Checkers showed how one of the robbers, badly wounded, escaped from the back of the store.
Bystanders said they saw how a civilian wrapped his arms around his lady-friend to shield her from the bullets. He was killed on the scene of the shootout.
Ms Louise Thition saw the robbers just before the attempted robbery. She was at McDonalds, when she noticed the sport utility vehicle (SUV). Her suspicion rose when she saw that the car’s number plates were covered up.
“I thought it was odd that paper or something would be taped over a numberplate,” she said while providing the SAPS with valuable information.
Ms Nicoleen Koen, who was in the store during the shootout said total chaos broke out, when the shootout erupted.
“It happened so quickly, I thought it must be a terrible dream, it can’t be happening,” she mumbled.
Koen said when she heard the shots, she did not realize what was happening until people started screaming. She ran for cover, leaving all her personal belongings in the trolley. Police later handed her personal belongings back to her.
Ms Estelle Malan calmed her mother-in-law Ms Lynette Botha down, while she tried to make sense of what happened while they were inside Shoprite Checkers.
“We were waiting at the money market, when I heard the shots. We ran for cover and I saw one of the robbers with a huge gun running passed me. Time stood still,” Malan described her ordeal.
Mr Sibusiso Madonsela like many other patrons, hid in one of the fridges when the robbery took place.
“It was the safest place. Bullets were flying all around us,’ he said.
Langamed Emergency Management had their work cut out as they treated more than 10 people for shock on the scene.
They tended to the two guards and transported them to Life Cosmos Hospital.
The police later found the SUV described by Thition abandoned in Susanna Street in Modelpark. The robbers fled empty handed.
Crime scene experts from the local criminal record centre dusted the vehicle for prints.
It is believed that the suspects are foreign nationals from Botswana and Zimbabwe.
“We request the community to assist the police with information that may lead to the arrest of remaining suspects,” said the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela.
He stressed that the remaining suspects poses danger to the society, as they are armed with AK47’s and it is evident that they have no regard for human life.
The civilian was identified as Mr Vincent Marebanyite. He worked as a driver for New Century Transport.
