Man gunned down at Newton Park ATM

A MAN understood to be a cash lender was shot dead at a Newton Park ATM late at night.

Zolisa Maholwana, 45, was shot in the head and chest by a gang of robbers while waiting in his bakkie for his wife and nephew.

The incident happened shortly before midnight on Tuesday in the Newton Park SUPERSPAR car park between Second and Third Avenue.

The five suspects were arrested just minutes later.

Maholwana, who worked for the SBV cash-in-transit company, is believed to have run a sideline cash loan operation, commonly known as a “skopper”, with his wife from their Motherwell home.

The suspects were arrested in Newton Street after the K9 and Flying Squad units tracked them down.

The five, aged between 18 and 38, are believed to be members of the Spot bouers gang

The provincial Gang Investigation Unit has taken over the case.

It is unclear if Maholwana, who had his personal firearm with him, managed to shoot back during the attack. The alleged robbers’ bakkie was fitted with false number plates – belonging to the Makana Municipality – and the vehicle had been reported stolen last month in the Humewood policing area.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Alwin Labans said Maholwana had gone to the ATM with his wife, Tembisa, 40, and his nephew, Olwetu Matshava, 30.

“They had gone to the ATM to withdraw money [as part of their business],” he said.

“A bakkie with men on the back pulled up next to [Maholwana] while his wife and nephew were withdrawing the money. “Maholwana yelled out a warning. “The suspects fired several shots at Maholwana, hitting him in the head and chest. He died on the scene.

“The robbers managed to steal an undisclosed amount of money from the wife and nephew.”

Labans confirmed that Maholwana’s firearm was also missing.

The arrests were made within minutes of the attack, when the bakkie was spotted speeding down

‘ They fired several shots, hitting him in the head and chest

Cape Road. “A chase ensued and the K9 and Flying Squad units managed to corner the vehicle,” Labans said.

A firearm found on the floor of the bakkie had been reported stolen in a house robbery in Kinkelbos four months ago.

Another firearm was found in the back of the bakkie.

It was unknown whether the second firearm belonged to Maholwana, Labans said.

“It is possible that during their escape, the suspects threw it out of the vehicle.

“The reason for killing him [Maholwana] is unknown but it is suspected to be a robbery.

“We are still investigating if there was another agenda.”

The house address Tembisa gave police shortly after the attack does not exist.

Colonel Priscilla Naidu, who works with the Gang Investigation Unit, confirmed the suspects were believed to be linked to gangs.

Naidu said the arrests reaffirmed the police view that the northern areas’ gangs were linked to serious crimes such as armed robberies, house robberies and car theft.

The firearms had been sent for ballistics tests to determine if they were linked to any gang-related shootings or other crimes.

The men are due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.