The incident took place at the Reyno Superette on June 16 at about 20:00.
Apparently staff from the small store on Hans Strydom Road was busy welding a cage to keep their generator in. They noticed a BMW driving up and down the street. After a while the shop owner approached the driver after yet another pass and asked if the man was lost. According to him and another witness the driver pulled a gun out a drove away. He also seemed to be under the influence of alcohol. The two men went inside the shop as it was already locked up for the evening.
The suspect returned a short while later and was banging on the door demanding to be let in. His firearm was not visible but the staff immediately pressed the panic button and called the police. When the suspect saw that they had called the authorities he got in his car and drove away. In his haste to get away he crashed into an Opal Corsa that was driving past the Superette.
Witnesses also saw another red golf GTI with four people inside and a man on a super bike waiting in the parking lot. They drove off when the commotion started. The police arrived soon after that and arrested the suspect. The owner believes it could have turned into an attempted robbery.
This was not the first time that the Reyno Supperette was robbed. In October last year the staff and several customers were held up at gun point in the store as armed robbers took what they wanted.
A docket was opened against the offender for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving. He was also charged with being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He appeared in the Witbank Magistrates court for a bail application the following day.
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