SPAR owner sheds light on petrol-bomb attack
Petrol-bomb accused was reportedly denied entry to the store twice before the attack for not wearing a mask, says outlet owner.
A man arrested for allegedly petrol-bombing a SPAR in Paul Kruger Street in Les Marais was expected to appear in the Pretoria magistrate’s court again tomorrow.
This was according to police spokesperson Constable Mandlakayise Zwane.
Sam Makgetha Motswenyane made his first appearance in court the day after the attack, in which an elderly woman was injured, on charges of arson.
Henry Adendorff, owner of the SPAR outlet, believed Motswenyane had thrown the “bottle with a flammable liquid” through the store’s front door because he was refused entry to the supermarket twice earlier on the day for not wearing a mask.
READ MORE: Pretoria nurse recounts petrol-bomb attack at north supermarket
“He was refused entry to the store due do not wearing a mask and thus not complying with the National Disaster Act.
“Later at 13:36, he yet again returned and tried to gain access,” Adendorff said.
“Just after 15:00, he came back and threw the petrol bomb through the front door on Paul Kruger Street side.”
He said that their internal fire team extinguished the fire.
“The SPAR group’s North Rand risk control manager was on-site, who looked again at all security protocols and made sure all is in place as our customers’ safety, well-being and comfort is our number one priority.”
The suspect was arrested that same afternoon and taken into custody at Wonderboompoort police station.
An elderly woman was seriously injured after her left leg caught fire due to the explosion while she was in the outlet.
Liza van Vuuren (68) said that her doctors are positive in terms of her recovery.
READ MORE: Elderly woman injured in Moot supermarket petrol-bomb attack
“I went for a check-up yesterday (Tuesday) to change my bandages.”
Van Vuuren suffered second-degree burn wounds to her left leg.
Van Vuuren, who is also a nurse, was about to enter the store when the petrol bomb was thrown next to her.
“My leg caught fire and I used my shirt to smother the fire preventing it from spreading to the rest of my body.
“The pain was excruciating,” she said.
She was transported to Life Eugene Marais hospital by Best Care.
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