MBABANE – Armed robbers reportedly escaped with E111 000 from The Employment Bureau for Africa (TEBA) office in Mbabane, leaving employees and clients traumatised.
TEBA works with various stakeholders to provide services relating to health, community development, the tracing of unpaid benefits and recruitment-related services.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:30am yesterday. Information gathered suggests that five gunmen, believed to have been hiding inside the building, ‘welcomed’ employees from inside the entrance and forced them to open the safe while holding gun barrels to their necks.
It is understood that the suspects then locked the employees inside a small office within the premises. Reports indicate that the gunmen kept the door shut to prevent anyone outside from witnessing the crime. Before locking the staff away, the robbers reportedly stole their cash and mobile phones.
The robbers then remained inside the office, targeting individuals arriving for services. One victim, who had visited to make an enquiry, narrated that he noticed that the office door was closed despite the windows being open. After enquiring with nearby business operators, he entered the building.
As he stepped inside, he was confronted by a man armed with a gun. The assailant allegedly placed the barrel against his neck and pushed him into the small office where the employees were being held.
The victim noted that the gunman, joined by his accomplices, robbed him of his money and phone before shoving him inside.
A woman seeking services described a similar ordeal, stating she was intercepted in the same manner, robbed and dragged into the room. Inside, the gunmen reportedly held a gun to an employee’s neck, ordering her to open the safe.
The victims described the five gunmen as having their faces covered. They noted that the men appeared to be foreigners, as they could not understand their language.
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The police investigating team with Mbabane Desk Officer Inspector Akhona Dludlu, outside the TEBA office, following a robbery where five gunmen reportedly made away with a sum of E111 000. (Pic: Sibusiso Shange)