At about 00:15 Monday, December 1 armed robbers targeted the Engen Garage in OR Tambo Street, near the N12 highway.
The robbers stormed the petrol station, leaving no opportunity for the employees on duty to call for help.
There were allegedly five robbers on scene who targeted the shop at the filling station, taking money from cash registers and planting explosives to blow open the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) inside. Two suspects, armed with R5 rifles, were allegedly told to keep a lookout outside and were surprised by the unexpected arrival of members of the Middleburg Flying Squad.
The Flying Squad members went to refuel their marked police vehicle when they unknowingly interrupted the suspects’ plot to rob the shop.
When the suspects saw the police vehicle and the four police officials inside, they opened fire.
The police members were caught by surprise and two were wounded before they could return fire at the assailants.
One policeman was hit in the buttocks, while the other sustained a foot wound. Their injuries were described as non life threatening.
Approximately 42 rounds were fired between the police officials and suspects, before the robbers decided to flee the scene with an undisclosed amount of money taken from the cash registers.
The suspects escaped in what appeared to be an Audi, but one of the robbers was left behind, allegedly trying to hide inside the shop.
“He took off his balaclava and pretended to be a customer,” an unnamed employee at the garage said.
Police arrested the suspect and confiscated a firearm and ammunition found in his possession.
Acting Police Commissioner, Major General (Adv) Meshack Nogwanya, expressed his concern with regard to the continued disregard for the lives of police officials by ruthless criminals.
“An attack on the police is an attack on the safety and security of the inhabitants of this country. I applaud the members. Even though they were ambushed, they managed to apply their survival tactics against the armed ATM bombers. This is one of the organised gangs and our members took the bull by its horn and fought back. I wish the injured members a speedy recovery,” Nogwanya said.
Constables Bhejane Mhlongo and Motene Magampa are still recovering in hospital and were praised, along with the other members of the Middleburg Flying Squad, for their bravery on the scene.
The 42-year-old arrested suspect is expected to appear in Witbank Magistrate’s Court soon, facing charges of business robbery, four counts of attempted murder, possession of explosives, malicious damage to property relating to the police vehicle which was riddled with bullets and possession of firearm and ammunition.
A manhunt for the remaining suspects has been launched. Anyone with information is requested to contact Warrant Officer Zero Masango from the Tracing Team in eMalahleni at 083 584 2491.
