Times Of Swaziland: WHISTLE-BLOWER SHOT DEAD BY ROBBERS

WHISTLE-BLOWER SHOT DEAD BY ROBBERS
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Sibusiso Zwane on 20/10/2023 07:41:00


MANZINI - A man, who was trying to raise the alarm after seeing robbers rob an
Asian-owned grocery shop, was shot dead by the thieves.
The incident took place on Wednesday around 8pm at Two Sticks, Zakhele in
Manzini, and the robbers (three) went away with a sum of E3 900 and the
businessman’s car, which was, however, found abandoned at Ngwane Park.
According to a source close to the matter, three armed men stormed the grocery
shop when it was about to close for the day (Wednesday) at around 8pm and held
the businessman, a relative and some customers at gunpoint and demanded money.
He said the robbers threatened to shoot the businessman, and his relative if
they failed to cooperate. Thereafter, he said they ordered them to kneel on the
floor and face down. He said one of them searched for money from the cashier
machine, while the other kept a close eye on the businessman and his relative.
After that, he said a man who resides opposite the grocery shop, came in
together with a young boy. He said after seeing that the shop was under attack,
they ran out.  As the man was raising the alarm outside, the source said the
robbers quickly collected the money and other items and fled. However, he said
one of the robbers spotted him and ran after him.
“He fired two gunshots at him and one hit him in the upper body,” the source
said. Thereafter, he said the robbers used the businessman’s car, a Nissan
Serena, to flee the scene.  He said the police were called and the shot man was
rushed to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital and was certified dead upon
arrival. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho
Mnguni confirmed the robbery and that a man was shot dead. She also confirmed
that the businessman’s car was recovered yesterday morning. It is worth noting
that about a fortnight ago, three armed men robbed Tandoori Express at Manzini
Bus Rank at around 7:30pm and they went away with about E19 000. Three gunshots
were fired, but no one was injured.