Safarie robbery | One robber had a toy gun
The robbers took off with cash in last night’s robbery. Luckily no clients in the supermarket were injured.
A man was arrested following last night’s robbery at Safarie Supermarket.
He was arrested after he stumbled into the adjacent tavern with a bullet wound to his leg. It is believed he is one of the four robbers.
He was shot by a security guard.
The security guard, unaware of the robbery, entered the supermarket and disrupted the robbers’ plans.
“One of the robbers pointed a gun at me. Instinctively, I reached for my gun and shot,” the security guard, who wishes to remain anonymous, said.
The robbers returned fire and fled the scene, allegedly in a white BMW.
The injured robber fled to the tavern to hide.
There it was discovered that he had a plastic toy gun.
Robber shot during robbery at Safarie Supermarket https://t.co/zx8zBM8lnb #witbanknews #Witbank #Emalahleni #localnews
— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) August 13, 2025
Back in the supermarket, a traumatised cashier told police, four men came in and one walked directly to the till where she was working.
The cashier, who did not want to mention her name, because she fears for her life, said, the armed man told her to hand over all the money in the till.
Police spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall said the cashier also told police she saw another armed man taking a customer to the kitchen, where he was told to lie down.
“When the security guard started shooting, the robbers returned fire. It is a miracle that no one was injured,” Hall said.
Outside the supermarket, a man who sleeps in a tent close to the supermarket said he got the fright of his life when he saw men running and bullets flying. He also refused to give his name.
He said, “There were four men. One ran into the tavern, and the others fled. One of the bullets ricocheted and scarred the man on his leg.
The wounded man was arrested and is expected to appear in court soon.
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Robberies increase in eMalahleni
Commenting on the surge of business robberies, Hall said on August 8 a man alleged that he went to withdraw money with his colleague at a mall, only to be robbed shortly after.
Upon return from the mall, the victim said his colleague dropped him off inside their premises and drove off.
He went in and dropped the pile of money at his other colleague’s desk to go and get a bag, but came rushing back as his colleague reportedly screamed for his name in a sudden panic, seeing two armed men approaching the office door.
The men robbed them of the cash and several gadgets and fled the scene, leaving the two locked inside the office.
EYEWITNESS TELLS OF SAFARIE SHOOTING
On August 9, five men pretending to be customers entered another store.
One of the men walked up to the till, pointed a firearm at the customers and staff directing them to one side.
The gang took off with cash and expensive alcohol.
With business robberies on the increase, Hall again stressed the importance of jacking-up security.
“Prevention is the most powerful tool. Good lighting, visible cameras, and staff training can make a huge difference in deterring criminals before they act.”
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