POLICE have launched a manhunt for a gang of suspects on the loose with an undisclosed amount of cash they robbed at the Swift petrol station in Relane Village in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, on Tuesday, 27 December.
A cashier on duty locked herself in the fridge during the incident, and was found unharmed.
A motorist who witnessed the incident said he spotted three men, wearing balaclavas and carrying guns, dashing into the station and cornering three workers.
“I was rushing to fill up my car and go to work. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a heavily armed gang, wearing balaclavas, holding up the workers. I made a U-turn and sped off as they confronted a cop, who had just arrived,” he said.
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said when a worker saw two unknown men wearing balaclavas, he tried to run away.
“But he found three other suspects with a firearm on the corner of the building. They grabbed and took him to the guard room, where they instructed other employees to lie down. They then robbed them of their cellphones and were left with one suspect to guard them while others went inside the shop,” he said.
Mohlala said that after a few minutes, they heard a loud bang and several gunshots. When it became quiet, they left the room and went inside the shop.
“They found a woman inside the fridge, unharmed. The drop safe was bombed and the ceiling was falling. No injuries were sustained, but they were robbed of three cellphones, a wedding ring and an undisclosed amount of cash.”
Anyone with information can contact Lieutenant-Colonel Busisiwe Kunene on 082 422 8198.
