Police are intensifying patrols around the Pavilion shopping centre amid fears of a revenge attack after the killing of two robbers.
|||Durban - Police are intensifying patrols around the Pavilion shopping centre amid fears of a revenge attack after the killing of two robbers at the weekend.
It is believed that a gang of robbers was trying to rob another gang that had just robbed more than a dozen mall workers on Saturday night when shots were fired as they fought for the loot.
Three robbers were shot near the shopping centre and the bodies of two men were discovered along a pathway leading from the Pavilion to Chesterville on Sunday.
The dead have been identified as Phumlani Ngubane, 28, and Mthokozisi Nkwanyana, 24. Both had bullet wounds to the chests.
Pavilion general manager, Nisha Kemraj, said a group of about 16 workers (many employed by Steers) had left the centre after finishing work when they were held up at gunpoint after crossing a pedestrian bridge on their way to Chesterville.
Nombuso Mchunu, a Steers employee, said she was on her way home at 10.30pm with her colleagues when they were accosted by three armed men.
“They asked for money and cellphones. We gave them what we had.
“After that another (larger) group of men approached them to ask what they took from us. They then started fighting for the loot among themselves and the one man starting shooting,” she said. “We all ran to take cover after that.”
One of the men who was shot is recovering in hospital.
Chesterville residents said gang robberies along the pedestrian bridge were a common occurrence.
One of the workers who was held up, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisals, said they had heard that a revenge attack would be carried out on Friday for the deaths.
Another Steers employee, Desmond Cele, said crime was rife around the shopping centre during this time of the year.
“I was walking home late that day when the girls from Steers were robbed right in front of me. They didn’t rob me, maybe because I was a guy and they only went for the girls I was walking with,” said Cele, whose girlfriend was also among the victims.
Kemraj said that as the incident occurred off the Pavilion’s premises in a public space, it was clear that the centre’s security had not been breached in any way.
“The Pavilion Shopping Centre is, however, working closely with SAPS to conclude the investigation, as safety of our customers and tenants is of utmost importance,” she said.
A relative of one of the dead robbers told the Daily News she had known that her nephew was involved in criminal activities when he was killed.
Sibongile Ngubane, who had raised Phumlani after his mother died, said her family received the news of his death at about 9am on Sunday.
“Our neighbour’s boy came running, knocked at the back window and shouted Phumlani has been shot dead.
“I ignored him. But he came back again running and shouted: ‘Aunty, why you would not listen? Phumlani has been killed at Pavilion,’” she said.
“I ran hysterically to the Pavilion with him and when we got there police had arrived. We could not see if it was him and we were not allowed to get closer to look at him.”
Said Ngubane: “We are suspecting that his friends are responsible for this.”
Mosi Nkwanyana said that the last time he saw his brother, Mthokozisi, was on Saturday when he was with a group of men at their neighbour’s house.
“We only found out about his death on Monday. We are still mourning his death, and we cannot say what had happened,” he said.
Police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said investigations were continuing.
Daily News