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FOUR HACKED IN PUMA ROBBERY

06/06/2019 01:59:00 BY JABULISA DLAMINI

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MANZINI - There was drama at a Puma Filling Station when four men, armed with a pistol and bush knives attacked employees and customers in a daring robbery.

The incident occurred at the filling station which is situated near Moneni, adjacent to the TB National Hospital, at around 7pm on Tuesday.
Customers, fuel attendants and a security guard were held hostage and severely assaulted with the bush knives all over their bodies.

An amount of E80 000, five cellphones, cigarettes and airtime cards were stolen during the robbery.
One of the supervisors, Phinda Ndzimandze, said he had just parked his vehicle nearby when he saw four men alighting from a red VW sedan. He said the men, who were all wearing hooded sweaters had covered their faces with pieces of cloths.

Attacked

“The getaway car sped off after dropping them off. They approached the main entrance where they found a fuel attendant, who was attacked first. While watching from a distance, I heard them demanding money and hurling insulting words,” he said.
Ndzimandze added that while demanding money, one of the robbers started hacking the attendant with a bush knife all over the body.

“When he fell to the ground, crying hysterically, one of the men dragged him into the filling station, where everyone was held hostage. Scared outside, I tried calling the police,” Ndzimandze said

He revealed that the men believed to be in their 20s ransacked the place, looking for cash and other valuables.
While doing so, they are said to have continued hacking everyone who was inside.

Security cameras captured all the drama as it unfolded. In closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, some customers are seen running for cover while another was hacked on the head by one of the robbers.
A while later, a customer, a kombi driver, had his body searched by the same man, who took out cash amounting to E1 200 and a cellphone from the driver’s pockets.
The kombi driver is seen lying on the floor bleeding profusely. It was later gathered that the kombi driver always parked his public transport vehicle and bought a few items at the garage on a daily basis before going home.
While the drama continued inside the filling station, some customers who had come to purchase items are seen turning back and driving off, in fear of being victims of the robbery.
A security guard guard was also repeatedly hacked all over the body.
Contacted
The same security guard had been trying to scare the robbers by informing them he had already contacted the police.
Some of the men are seen stuffing cigarettes and other items into their pockets while another tries to open the cash register.
When he discovered that the cash register was not opening, he cut the electric cable with a bush knife he was carrying and removed it from the counter.
It was later loaded into the getaway car, much to the shock of the people who were watching in disbelief.
An Asian national, who heard the violent men demanding money, is said to have locked himself inside the tiny office situated inside the filling station. It is believed that there was more cash inside the office.
After stealing the valuables and cellphones, the four men fled the scene and jumped into the same VW sedan which had earlier on dropped them off.
Police officers from the Serious Crimes Unit (LUKHOZI) arrived immediately after the armed robbers had escaped and ferried the injured persons to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, where statements were recorded.
The owner of the garage, Aziz Bhagubhai who said he was still traumatised by the incident revealed that he would have to beef up security in all his Puma garages.
He said he had others in Lobamba and Nhlangano.
“It is clear that these armed robbers are now targeting filling stations owned by Asian nationals, which is sad as we work so hard for the money. It is unfortunate because innocent people then end up being victims of such gruesome incidents,” Bhagubhai said.
The owner further disclosed that the men made away with about E80 000 cash and valuables which included cellphones, cigarettes and airtime cards among others.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the robbery and said the police were still conducting investigations.