BULLETS flew as the gang of more than 30 heavily armed tsotsis stormed and raided Super Spar.
The head of security and the store manager were injured.
The drama unfolded at the Thulamahashe Shopping Mall in Thulamahashe, near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, at about 6pm on Wednesday, 3 January.
Police found dozens of bullet casings at the scene and several cars in the car parking lot were also riddled with bullets.
Shocked passers-by reported seeing the gang of tsotsis turn up in four bakkies, wearing blue convasses and balaclavas, running into the Super Spar Tops and harassing customers, store managers and staff at gunpoint.
The gang ran out of the shop as fast as they could with bags full of money. But a crossfire ensued, with the fleeing gang running into an idling Toyota Double-Cab and an Isuzu Bakkie, as well as other cars in the parking lot.
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"The gang shot at the security guards, who fought back outside the shopping mall. Customers ran in all directions causing a huge stampede with food scattered everywhere.
"Unfortunately, the head of security was shot in the stomach with his gun in his hand," the witness said.
He said the gang fired shots randomly when they found the entrances to the shopping mall locked and could not escape even after several attempts.
A terrified shopper (30) said: "We were busy shopping at Spar Liquor when more than three tsotsis wearing balaclavas attacked the cashier and us. They forced us at gunpoint to lie on the floor in the camera control room. One of them hit the manager on the head with a pistol grip and demanded money from the safe. They dragged the manager and forced him to lead them into the vault," he said.
Another customer (52) said he had just finished his shopping when he encountered the tsotsis at the shop entrances.
"The tsotsis pushed us inside the shop and instructed us to lie down before they killed us," he said.
By the time the police called for backup, the gang had already disappeared, leaving their Toyota bakkie with a double cab outside the entrance.
He said the group of suspects, who were travelling in about four vehicles, stormed into the shopping mall and fired some shots.
Mdhluli said further reports indicated that the suspects fired some shots randomly and caused commotion among people who were at the mall during that time.
He said no one has been arrested yet and police are still searching for the suspects.
Anyone with information about the suspects should call CrimeStop on 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP. All information received will be treated in confidentially and callers can choose to remain anonymous.
