The robbery took place between 01:00 and 01:30 on Wednesday morning, when three suspects broke into a house in Soetdoring Street. Van Niekerk allegedly fired a warning shot whilst trying to keep the corridor door closed to keep the suspects from gaining entry to the bedrooms of the house.

In the shuffle, van Niekerk was wounded in his foot.

The suspects were allegedly looking for money from Indian shop owners but fled with van Niekerk’s firearm.

Van Niekerk was taken to a local hospital for treatment and then transferred to a Tzaneen Hospital for further treatment.

Members of the Phalaborwa CPF were in persuit of the suspects shortly after the incident. “The CPF people came very quickly, they went with us to the hospital and back home and the police also arrived within half an hour.

They were looking for the robbers” Ghadija van Niekerk, wife of wounded Fazel van Niekerk said.

“When they (the robbers) came in, they weren’t looking for computers or televisions, they were asking for money” she added.

“I believe they are targeting Indian shopowners, because I shouted, we are coloured, we are coloured, tell them we have nothing! This is when they started backing off” she said.

She added: “I am just glad we are all alright, my children were screaming, we were all very scared”.

The couple has three children, a 10 year old, 8 year old and 8 month old baby who were in the house at the time of the robbery.

According to Constable Malatji, from the Phalaborwa police station, this is the fourth incident in three months that he knows of. The suspects are still at large.