For Mr Isak Thabiso, life will never be the same as his eldest son was shot during a shoot-out between robbers and the police. An alleged robber was also shot. Both died in Witbank Hospital later.
The drama started in Middelburg on Saturday, June 6 when three suspects allegedly robbed Total Sport in the morning.
They fled towards eMalahleni followed by the police hot on their heels. But they did not escape far, as on the N12 off ramp in Tasbet Park they rolled the red Mazda 3, they were fleeing in.
Witbank SAPS, who was busy with Operation Fiela which is executed nationwide, responded to the scene and followed the suspects as they managed to run into the suburb making their way to Uthingo Park where the peaceful quiet was soon disrupted by the sound of bullets.
According to witnesses, the suspects were shooting and the police retaliated.
The suspects tried to hijack an off duty response surveillance SBV vehicle. The two SBV security guards fended the suspects off and shot at the suspects who again tried to flee. The two suspects split up and ran in different directions.
Mr Cedrick Tsotetsi was right in the middle of the line of fire when one of the suspects tried to hijack his vehicle.
“I just came back from Spar and was about to park when I saw a man running towards me. He was shooting wildly,” said Tsotetsi.
What seemed like an eternity, but was actually just a few minutes, Tsotetsi faced one of his biggest fears.
“The man knelt down beside my car. Bullets were flying. I was caught right in the middle. I looked in the man’s eyes and I saw terror. He was bewildered and frightened,” Tsotetsi said.
When he saw a gap he grabbed the suspect’s gun and watched as the police cuffed him.
“The second suspect was found hiding inside a toilet inside Uthingo Park. He was ordered to hand himself over to the police. After a few minutes SAPS members heard a sound of a gun being cocked and they raced for cover,” Capt Eddie Hall, police spokesperson said.
The suspect then came running out of the toilet, shooting randomly in all directions. Capt Hall said the police returned fire and a shootout occurred. The suspect was arrested soon afterwards.
It was during the crossfire that Mabatla was wounded. He was rushed to Witbank Hospital and died a few hours later. His brothers, Messrs Joseph and Joshua Mabatla, said they think their brother heard the commotion and was shot when he went outside to look at what was happening.
One of the suspects sustained severe head injuries during the car accident and he was taken to Witbank Hospital for treatment where he died later the evening.
The police later found the robbers’ loot in the Mazda that rolled. They recovered 33 cell phones that were stolen earlier the morning and two unlicensed firearms. It was also determined that the Mazda was hijacked in Johannesburg.
“I am alive, we serve a great God who taught me today that I have a lot to do still,” said Tsotetsi.
The Mabatla brothers said their brother was a God-fearing man who always had a joke to share.
He was unemployed. The family have not finalised the funeral arrangements yet.
Personnel of Total Sports were told not to speak to the media.
If you have information you can contact the investigating officer, Col Raymond Talmakies on 071 575 8583.
Capt Hall said investigations are continuing and more arrests are expected.
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