Man dies in bombing at Mpumalanga supermarket

The Usave Supermarket in Pienaar, Mpumalanga was bombed at 01:45 this morning.

Brig Leonard Hlathi, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga police, said that more than 15 suspects blasted the safe of the shop and stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

He said the suspects gained entry through the front entrance.

Two security guards who were behind the shop immediately pressed the panic button.

Hlathi added that a police van patrolling the area responded.

“The suspects started shooting at the police and the police retaliated. The suspects fled in various directions and member of the police gave a chase on foot. Three suspects vanished among the houses around the shop,” he said.

Hlathi said that empty cartridges of high-calibre firearms were found on the scene.

All role players were summoned to the scene including the bomb disposal unit.

Hlathi said a hand was seen protruding from the rubble while police were clearing the scene.

“Upon investigation a man’s body was found. It was discovered that it was one the perpetrators who failed to escape and the wall collapsed on him,” he said.

He was found in possession of his driver’s license.

The man was certified dead at the scene by Emergency Response Service Police opened a case of business burglary.

No arrests have been made so far. Investigations continue.