A SHOP owner Tekat Iafte (38) escaped death after being tied to a gambling machine that was set alight by notorious teen gangsters.
The gang stormed his shop and robbed him of an undisclosed amount of cash and groceries at Dumphries C Village outside Thulamahashe, near Bushbuckridge, on Sunday, 4 December, at around 7pm.
Tekat said he had just closed his shop when the gang broke the gate and forced their way into the shop.
He said this was just after load shedding hit the entire village.
“I heard some movement and male voices inside the shop. They broke several doors down and before I knew it, three boys were standing over me. One of them was pointing a gun at me. He threatened to blow my brains out if I didn’t give them money. They took all the money in the small gambling machine, but that was not enough,” he said.
The gang ransacked his room and took an undisclosed amount of cash.
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“Then they tied me to the gambling machine before soaking me with paraffin. They lit the machine and ran away. Luckily, people came running after they spotted some flames and smoke coming out of the shop windows and roof,” he said.
Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairman Guga Sihlangu said they became suspicious when they spotted flames and smoke coming from the shop.
“We realised that something was wrong. We quickly mobilised and ran to the shop. We heard Tekat shouting for help. We forced entry into the shop and found his gambling machine burning. We quickly rescued him and luckily, he was not hurt. We rushed him to the clinic for him to be checked after putting out the fire,” he said.
He said angry residents began searching for the suspects and reported the matter to the police.
“We are thankful that we managed to apprehend some of the boys and handed them over to the Mhala police. We also recovered the stolen items, including the groceries. But they told the police that the other boy, who was allegedly the mastermind of the robbery, was on the run with the gun used. We can’t tolerate such barbaric behaviour of criminals terrorising traders who are helping us. We will leave no stone unturned until he’s brought to book,” he said.
Another CPF member Wonder Ubisi said: “Crime is a big concern for us and it’s being committed by young boys who are used by older people who are only benefiting themselves. We need change in our society.”
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said a case of business robbery has been opened but no one has been arrested yet as they are busy with further investigations.
