Six men and a woman are being sought by police after they robbed a well-known supermarket in Athlone on Saturday evening.
One of the staff members was pistol-whipped when the robbers entered Biesmillah Superette in Lawrence Road shortly after 7pm.
The five men, who were all armed, threatened the two staff members and one customer and stole cellphones to the value of R35 000, cigarettes to the value of R30 000 and R10 000 in cash.
A staff member tells the Daily Voice the gang had pulled up in a car, entered the shop, threatened them, and “simply took what they wanted”.
Achmat Khan, 32, who was working in the grocery store at the time, says he was skytbang(terrified) when he saw the armed skelms(robbers).
“I was still helping a customer when there was a gun in my face. I just went down on my knees and prayed,” he says.
“They hit my brother on the head and he was taken to hospital. His wound has three stitches.
“I did not know the black men and the girl who came in to rob us.
“They took what they wanted, cigarettes, our cellphones and money from the till.
“They took (things worth) R75 000 from us like it was nothing. They did not shoot us, but said they will kill us if we scream,” a traumatised Khan says.
The robbers ran out of the shop and the police were called in.
Khan says they cannot afford to close the store, and their only options now are to either close earlier or beef up security.
“We don’t want to lose again,” he says.
Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana says the suspects are yet to be arrested. Picture supplied
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed the incident and says a case of business robbery has been opened for investigation.
“This follows a business robbery that was perpetrated by seven suspects, a female and six men on Saturday evening.
“According to information, the suspects, five of whom were armed, entered the premises and threatened the complainant and took cellphones, cigarettes and other property.
“They fled the scene in an unknown vehicle and are yet to be arrested.
“No shots were fired during this incident.”