Durban — A supermarket owner was allegedly pistol-whipped during a robbery in the oThongathi central business district on Monday afternoon.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said that Rusa officers arrived on the scene at 5.02pm and it was established that the robbers entered the business and held up the owner and staff.
“The robbers stole an undisclosed amount of cash and a Samsung cellphone before they fled on foot,” Balram said.
“The owner was assaulted but did not require medical attention.”
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said that the complainant alleged that on Monday she was at work performing her duties at a business premises on Laura Street when she was accosted by two armed men.
“At gunpoint, they took cash from the till and fled the scene,” Ngcobo said.
“A case of robbery was opened at Tongaat police station for investigation.”
Commenting on Rusa’s Facebook post about the incident, Mogie Naidoo thanked God that the owner was not seriously injured or killed.
Trevor Papayi Khoza said it was the third or fourth business robbery in oThongathi this month. He questioned where police patrols and visibility were.
Meanwhile, Verona Balram said police were doing nothing.
“All the robbers get away. Police need to get their men in during this winter … they do know crime is high.”
Daily News