Second garage shooting
Another security guard wounded in robbery
ANOTHER security guard was shot and injured in an armed robbery at an East London filling station on Thursday night.
There was chaos at the popular station as customers tried to race away from the shooting.
Police said the unidentified security guard, from Isidingo Security Services, was simply trying to fill up his vehicle when he was shot in his leg.
The robbery unfolded shortly after 8pm at the busy Abbotsford Sasol garage near the North-East Expressway interchange at the N2 alongside the Nahoon River.
Earlier this week an armed response guard was shot in his face when he unknowingly walked into an armed robbery in progress at the Vincent Caltex garage. In that incident, the robbers stole his firearm and fled the scene with R1 000. They are still at large.
In Thursday night’s incident, the robbers reportedly took R3 000 in cash. East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said two men entered the garage and pretended to be customers.
While being attended to by a woman cashier, the robbers pulled out firearms and demanded cash.
The Saturday Dispatch understands the men fled the garage with R3 000 in cash and packs of cigarettes.
Eyewitness Xolani Konziwe, who was filling up a vehicle, said as the men left the garage they opened fire at the shop.
“I then heard them shouting at us not to move. At that time a security guard drove in and parked at pump 2. The men ran towards him and pointed their firearms at him.
“They then searched him for a firearm and when they could not find any they shot him in the leg,” Konziwe said.
Chaos broke out as motorists made a dash to flee the scene.
Konziwe said the thugs shot at his Mercedes-Benz E500 thinking there was someone inside.
“The bullet hit the driver’s door and damaged the window and the electronics.
“I think the damage totals about R40 000 because the vehicle is valued at R1.1-million.
“I am happy I am alive and it would just be a bonus if the men are arrested,” Konziwe said.
Garage owner Phumza Gcanga said the men had fled the scene on foot.
“CCTV footage shows them being dropped by a VW Golf that parked on the island on the side of the main road.
“Once in the shop they demanded … money. Seemingly they expected more than what they got,” Gcanga said.
Mqala said police were investigating a case of attempted murder and business robbery.
The security guard is recovering in one of the city’s hospitals. — zwangam@dispatch.