Three friends found themselves in the firing line when they stopped at a filling station in Acornhoek in Timbavati Trust on Monday April 24 at about 01:00 to inspect their vehicle after they had heard a loud explosion.

Assuming it was a tyre burst, they stopped at the filling station, placing them at the scene where suspects were in the process of blowing up a safe. One of the three men got out of the car to inspect the tyres.

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According to workers at the filling station, he was shot after a group of unknown suspects instructed everyone to lie down inside the filling station shop before setting off another detonator in an attempt to open the safe.

According to Mohlala, the 25-year-old victim was fatally wounded by one of the suspects and was immediately taken to hospital by his friends. He was declared dead on arrival.

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A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said the three friends were returning from a night out in Chavelagaza near Acornhoek in Bushbuckridge.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had made off with an undisclosed amount of money with no any other casualty reported.

No arrest has been made yet, and the police called on anyone who might assist to contact Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Digoro on 082 318 9925 or the police Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. Alternatively, use the My SAPS app.

All information received will be treated as confidential.