Alicedale businessman robbed and stabbed

An Alicedale shop owner was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash, cellphone, cigarettes and airtime vouchers when two men entered his shop on Monday 5 October.

Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said the 33 year-old man was inside his shop when the two men, wearing balaclavas, came in.

She said they were armed with knives and demanded cash from the businessman.

“The victim tried to run out of the door but one man grabbed and hit him on his nose with his fist.

The shopkeeper attempted to fight back but the other man stabbed him with a knife in his right hand and sustained an open wound on one finger,” said Govender.

The shopkeepr then ran to the police station across the road.

Govender said the victim was in a terrible state of shock and was taken to hospital where he was treated.

She said his condition was stabilised and police opened a business robbery case which is currently under investigation.

Govender said police were urging business owners to avoid keeping large amounts of money on their premises.

She said people should also try and get a description of the suspects to assist with any investigation.

“If you have a panic button use it, do not make sudden movements as this will make the robbers feel threatened and react and that can cause disastrous consequences, cooperate with the robbers,” said Govender.

Addo robbery link to Alicedale pair

Govender said during the afternoon of Tuesday 6 October, three off-duty constables from SAPS Alicedale – Luvuyo Faxi, Lunga Zothe and Edgar Gouza – followed up on a tipoff that there were two men selling cigarettes in the area.

She said they were traced and found at a house in Mandela Park, Transriviere, Alicedale.

Govender said the men had several packets of cigarettes in their possession and gave several versions of how they came by them to the police. The men were arrested.

Still on Tuesday, police said it was learnt that there was a house robbery that had taken place in the town of Addo.

Detectives from Addo were searching for two suspects.

She said Detective Commanders from the two stations of Alicedale and Addo made contact and it was established that these suspects fitted the description of the suspects who were involved in the house robbery.

Govender said police opened a case of house robbery.

Grahamstown Cluster Commander, Brigadier Morgan Govender applauded the members in absentia at the Cluster Crime Combating Forum.

He said to Station Commander, Captain Simphiwe Magula, “Kindly pass on this message to your members, due to their commitment and dedication we have managed to keep two dangerous criminals away from the community. Let’s give them a round of applause”.