BULLETS flew as a heavily armed gang of more than 10 tsotsis robbed the Sasol petrol station at Thulamahashe Plaza in Thulamahashe near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, on Tuesday, 10 October at about 1am.
The drama unfolded after the gang resurfaced in a hijacked Toyota Quantum and a VW Polo at Vahlave Petrol Station at the nearby Rolle Village outside Thulamahashe.
Shocked taxi drivers who witnessed the drama at a nearby Thulamahashe Taxi Rank said they spotted the gang flashing guns as they overpowered one of the guards and disarmed him of his firearm.
"So fast the gang stormed into the closed petrol station and fired shots. We had to take cover for our lives inside the taxis. The next thing we heard was a loud explosion from the station as they blew the cash safe inside.
"We saw broken pieces of glass in the windows scattered around the floor outside the building as they quickly ran out with money bags, joined by others outside. They jumped into the BMW and a Toyota Quantum and sped off," they said.
ALSO READ: Rand Water's R700 million headache!
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala confirmed that police are investigating cases of burglary business and carjacking.
"It's alleged that about 10 armed suspects hijacked a Toyota Quantum and VW Polo at Vahlave Filling Station, Rolle, where the victims were busy drinking liquor at about 1.20am," Mohlala said.
He said the suspects went to Sasol Filling Station at Thulamahashe Plaza.
"They attacked security officers at the gate and disarmed one security guard of his pistol. They then went to the Sasol Filling Station which was closed and broke the main door. They then broke the drop-in safe using explosives and took an undisclosed amount of cash. They used a security vehicle from MD Alarms and a BMW X5 as getaway vehicles. The BMW X5 was later found abandoned at Vahlave Filling Station, Rolle. The BMW was hijacked at Masoyi outside White River in Bombela," he said.
He said anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects should contact Mhala police on 013 7730 331 or CrimeStop on 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP.
