A dramatic nine-hour standoff between cops and armed robbers played out at a Cape Flats shopping centre on Monday after a brazen heist that left one security guard shot and wounded. He is currently under police guard in hospital where he is fighting for his life.
Gunshots rang out at Nyanga Junction in Duinefontein Road at 8am, as the skelms attempted to rob a grant paypoint at the Shoprite store.
Ten hostages, all Shoprite staff, were held captive inside the centre for five hours.
Police are yet to indicate how many arrests have been made.
NABBED: Suspect was arrested. CREDIT: Phando Jikelo
It is believed the robbers entered the supermarket through the back entrance of the mall.
Hundreds of mense who had gone to collect their Sassa (South Africa Social Security Agency) grants were forced to turn away when the drama unfolded.
Police cordoned off the street as SAPS experts comprising hostage negotiators, Special Task Force members, the National Intervention Unit and detectives moved in.
BIG GUNS: Special Task Force members geared to respond to the hostage drama. CREDIT: Phando Jikelo
After a tense five hours, the 10 captives were finally released.
At just after 3pm, onlookers shouted “Hoya!”, whistling and shouting as hostages were led out of the centre.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed the attempted robbery and the release of the hostages.
“Of the 11 people taken out of the building, 10 are said to be hostages employed by the retail store and one the suspect who was earlier injured,” said Potelwa.
“The suspect was treated on the scene and taken to hospital under police guard.”
By late last night, the Special Task Force and the K9 Unit were still busy sweeping the premises.
Acting National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane, praised the work of cops.
“The South African Police Service thanks all members of the community for their support and prayers during this nailbiting police operation.
“We again assure those that we serve, that all precautions were taken to ensure the safe release of the hostages -
that was our primary objective and we are thankful to our skilled and dedicated members that this was achieved,” said Phahlane.
The security cordon meant trains were delayed by 60 minutes.
Metrorail’s Daphne Kayster said trains to Cape Town were turned around at Heideveld and were stationary at Philippi and Stock Road.
Bus shuttle services operated between Heideveld, Chris Hani and Kapteinsklip.
Desiree Paris, community leader of Tambo Village which is located next to the mall, was on her way to collect her grant when the drama unfolded.
“We are appealing for more police to be present on days when there is a Sassa payout,” she says.