Sassa beneficiaries were left traumatised and stranded after a Mamelodi post office was recently robbed of an undisclosed amount of money.
The armed robbery happened soon after a cash-in-transit vehicle had delivered money at the Rethabile post office in Mamelodi East at the corner of Tsomo and Tsamaya roads.
During the attack, security guards were disarmed by men wielding machine guns, according to an eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous.
“They ordered one security guard to accompany them inside the post office,” the source told Rekord.
“Inside, another security guard was also disarmed and ordered to lie down on the ground. They took his firearm too.”
The robbers then ordered post office staff members and pensioners who were standing in the queue waiting to be paid their social grants to lie down.
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They demanded staff members give them the money that was delivered by the cash-in-transit vehicle. The money was intended for beneficiaries who receive their monthly social grant payments at the post office.
The source said the robbery happened at around 10:00 and the suspects fled the scene in a white Ford Focus with an unknown registration number. No shots were fired.
Pensioners were shaken by the incident and said they thought that they were going to die.
“Everything happened so fast,” the eyewitness told Rekord.
Shocked senior citizens demanded improved police visibility at the post office.
After the robbery, the post office was closed and community members were advised to use other post offices in the area.
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Police spokesperson Captain Johannes Maheso said the police were looking for five armed suspects.
“They disarmed the security guard, taking his 9mm pistol, and proceeded into the post office and held staff hostage.
“They then took the money, which was not yet put into the safe after delivery,” he said.
“The police are investigating a case of businesses robbery and anyone with information can contact the police.”
No one was injured during the robbery and no arrests have yet been made.
It was alleged this was not the first time the post office in question has been robbed, especially at month’s end when beneficiaries received their regular social grants payouts.
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