GOGOS and mkhulus braved the rainy weather on Monday, 4 April, and went to the post office to get their pension grants.
But, they didn’t know what was in store for them. When thugs attacked the post office, guards were ready, resulting in an exchange of gunshots.
Two pensioners were caught in the crossfire. They were shot in their legs and rushed to hospital in Verena near Emalahleni, Mpumalanga.
Witnesses told Daily Sun that pensioners were waiting in the queue when thugs barged into the post office.
A 47-year-old witness said: “Nobody thought this was going to happen. We were all shocked when we heard gunshots.
“People ran for cover, while others lay on the ground. Pensioners who couldn’t run away were caught by bullets and badly injured.”
Another witness (38) told the Sun Team that when they heard the gunshots, everybody got scared. She said they didn’t see where the thugs had entered.
“Pensioners are traumatised. What happened at the post office is very bad.
“Thugs started shooting randomly and the gogos were hurt in the process. We were all scared and had to run for cover,” she said.
“I was outside the building when all this happened. But the thugs failed to get any money and fled,” she said.
Payments continued at the post office after the incident.
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala confirmed the incident, adding that three suspects allegedly entered by jumping over the fence.
“A shoot-out ensued between the suspects and security guards. In the process, two elderly people (a man and woman) were shot in their legs. They were taken to KwaMhlanga Hospital by an ambulance.
“One suspect was also shot but fled with the others. One rifle was recovered,” Mohlala said.
He said two cases were opened – one for attempted business robbery and another for attempted murder.
Cops are seeking help to arrest the culprits.
