The Sasol garage in Klipfontein was another statistic added to the number of ATM bombings.
On January 31 at about 02:25 the staff at the Sasol garge was held hostage by three suspects who had come for the in-store ATM machine. One cashier managed to get away and hide in the fridge as the events unfolded inside the store. A baker at the store hid herself in the fridges at 25 degrees Celsius of cold air.
“They stuck a gun through the window and demanded we let them in. We shuffled for the door as we feared for our lives,” said one cashier. The suspects allegedly first knocked out the security guard onsite from the back entrance and made their way into the shop. The manager of Sasol said that he suspects they had other back-up outside the shop to keep any more people from entering the premises. “They must have been professionals as they were in and out in less than five minutes.
They did not make much of a mess when bombing the machine so I’m sure they are experienced,” said a manager at the shop, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Although the Sasol garage has camera coverage in just about everywhere around it, they were unable to pick up the number plates of the getaway vehicle. “The bombers were parked in such a way that we could not see anything but the roof of the car from where they were parked. They knew exactly where to stand,” added the manager. He also said that he was grateful that none of his staff was injured during the incident; they didn’t try to play the hero.
During the interview held with the store manager, he pointed out the number of customers that come to the shop specifically to use the ATM. He said that most of his customers come there for the convenience of the ATM, within the hour about 15 people had entered the shop and gone out immediately upon realising that there is no ATM in store.
“FNB has said they will put up a replacement machine, I just hope its very soon because if people leave the shop with no money they wont be tempted to buy anything from the store. Now with a working ATM, they could decide they need a cup of coffee or a newspaper and that’s good business for us,” concluded the manager.
