An elderly woman (73), her son (19) and his friend were robbed yesterday morning by five men allegedly posing as municipal workers in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.

Quick reactions and collaboration by local security companies and the police ensured the arrest of three of the men.

The woman’s husband (75), who was not at the house in Von Braun Street in Steiltes during the incident, spoke to Lowvelder and asked that none of them be named.

He said five men, dressed in overalls, came to the gate and spoke to the gardener, claiming they were from the municipality and needed to check the meters at the house.

The domestic worker, who was cleaning the veranda, had left the home’s security gate open. After entering the property, the men allegedly forced the gardener and the domestic worker inside the house through the open security gate. Once inside, they allegedly assaulted the gardener and tied his hands.

The husband said the gardener pleaded with the suspects not to hurt the wife.

The robbers tied the hands of the wife, her son, his friend and the domestic worker.

They allegedly threatened the wife with a knife, to get the safe key, which she gave to them.

They took a .303 rifle, a .22 pistol and a hunting knife from the safe. All the cellphones on the premises were stolen, as well as R600 belonging to the son’s friend.

A contract worker in the Steiltes area reportedly saw the men as they were leaving the house and allegedly started firing shots at them. The suspects fled in various directions.

The husband said one of the suspects jumped over the wall and broke his leg when he was trying to flee.

He added that their son’s friend managed to break free, jump over the wall into a neighbour’s garden and ask them to call his family who live nearby.

Divergent Ops operations manager Juandré Rautenbach said they were first on the scene, followed by the couple’s daughter.

The suspect who broke his leg was arrested by Divergent Ops, with assistance from a member of Hi-Tech Security.

Securicon Lowveld’s Callum mac Pherson said Securicon then apprehended two of the other suspects near the Steiltes circle. One of them was in a white Toyota Hilux bakkie, while the second was hiding in a nearby bush.

The remaining two robbers are still at large.

The husband said ER24 was at the scene, but no one was seriously injured and that they were just in shock.

The husband said they are truly thankful for the professional and speedy assistance from the police and the security companies and complimented them on how they handled the situation and treated his wife.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Nelspruit Police Station, Captain Zandile Gqawa, said SAPS is aware of the incident, but could not comment until they have more information regarding the arrests.

The City of Mbombela’s (CoM) spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, said all contractors and people claiming to work for the municipality must produce identification cards.

He said their cars are marked with CoM vehicle stickers, and if they do not have ID, no one should allow them in. He added that people claiming to be checking water meters will have Silulumanzi-marked vehicles.

“We strongly condemn this incident and urge people to be vigilant,” he said.