A BUSINESSMAN narrowly escaped death during a shoot-out with heavily armed tsotsis on Saturday, 19 November.
The shoot-out, that lasted for almost 10 minutes, started when the 68-year-old was attacked by a gang of seven at his newly constructed petrol station in Songeni village near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, at around 7pm.
They started shooting during an attempt to hijack his Toyota DG6 but he shot back, forcing them to flee.
Upon arrival at the scene, police found dozens of spent cartridges.
The man said when he arrived at the petrol station, he saw a woman talking on the phone.
“She was carrying a small baby on her back and someone was walking with her. She suddenly stopped and came to the bakkie,” he said.
“She then asked for bread. I gave her two loaves but she then asked for R30, which made me suspicious.”
He said the woman quickly left and the gang ambushed him, drawing guns and firing.
They told him they wanted his car and he must not waste their time.
“Madala, sifuna le GD6 eyethu. Awusinike izikhiye zethu ngaphandle kokumosha isikhathi sethu,” they shouted in isiZulu.
“I quickly reversed, holding my belly and screaming so they would think I had been shot. I then drew my gun and fired back,” he said.
“I heard some of them shouting, ‘lo madala uyashaya isibhamu’ as they ran off to the septic tank before vanishing into thin air,” he said
In early 2020, the businessman also dodged death when a gang, armed with AK-47s, tried to rob his station in Rolle.
Police spokesman Colonel Donald Mdhluli confirmed the incident.
“The suspects fled the scene, and police are still in pursuit of them. No one has yet been arrested,” he said.
Mdhluli further urged anyone with information to call CrimeStop on 08600 10111 or send information to the MySAPS app.
