The police are still on the hunt for suspects implicated in the shooting of former ANC National Spokesperson, Mr Jackson Mthembu (56), in an apparent robbery at an ATM on Sunday.
Mthembu was shot in the face while withdrawing money from the ABSA Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) in the Central Business District on Sunday, October 19 at 22:00.
An unknown suspect came behind him, drew a gun and pointed it at Mthembu, forcing him to withdraw all his money from his bank account.
Mthembu then turned around and hit the suspect’s hand which was holding the gun.
A shot was fired and the bullet hit Mthembu in the cheek.
Mthembu rushed to his vehicle where he found another four suspects waiting for him. They searched him, taking three cell phones, a large sum of money and a parliament tag.
The suspects fled the scene towards Middelburg.
Mthembu then drove himself to a nearby hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries.
Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe urged the police to urgently investigate and arrest all suspects that are linked to the shooting incident.
On Tuesday, October 21 Mpumalanga police said that three people were arrested in Tzaneen and were being questioned over the shooting.
However, on Wednesday police denied that the three could be linked to Mthembu’s shooting.
The men were arrested in Limpopo at about 22:30 on Monday in possession of suspected stolen property including a laptop, 30 cell phones and 28 bank cards.
eMalahleni Private Hospital confirmed that Mthembu was admitted into the hospital after the shooting incident.
“He is currently in ICU and his condition is stable,” said Ms Valerie Shanahan, General Manager of ePH.
A case of armed robbery has been opened by Witbank Police Station.
Parliament wishes Mthembu a speedy recovery and strength to his family.
They trust that the law will take its course and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice as soon as possible.
The South African Civic Organisation (SANCO) said in a press release that “they are terrified by the shooting incident.”
“As SANCO we view this as one of the barbaric criminal conducts which continuously robs the society and communities of its freedom, and places unjust restrictions on the movement of communities. We urge SAPS to work around the clock to ensure that these perpetrators of crime are apprehended and brought to justice without delay. We have confidence that the SAPS and ABSA shall review the CCTV footages, if available, to smudge and unmark these haters of community peace and stability,” the press release continued.
