One dead, another arrested during robbery

It was alleged the suspects held the security guard and employees of Fearbreez shop at gunpoint and took an undisclosed amount of cash, cellphones and an iPad before they fled the scene on Saturday at about 5pm.

They fled in different directions, and in the process, one of them hijacked a Mercedes Benz and used it as a getaway vehicle, police said.

It is believed Tongaat police officers were patrolling when they were stopped by members of the community to notify them about a business robbery in progress in the area. The police were given a description of the suspects.

They reacted swiftly and spotted one suspect running from the scene. When he saw the police, he went straight to them and shot at them, police said.

The police reportedly retaliated and fatally shot the suspect..

Later the second suspect was also arrested and a hijacked Mercedes Benz vehicle used as a getaway by the suspect was recovered in the area, police said.

Two unlicensed firearms suspected to have been used during the robbery were recovered, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash.

Both suspects are expected to appear in the Verulam Magistrates` Court today to face charges of business robbery, attempted murder, hijacking, and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the Tongaat police members for the swift arrest of the suspect.

In a separate incident, one suspect was killed and another arrested after a business robbery in the Umlazi area in KwaZulu-Natal last Wednesday.

It was alleged two Ethiopian nationals had been sleeping in their tuck shop in F Section at about 1.45am when the suspects broke into the shop and robbed them, police said.

– Caxton News Service