A spaza-shop owner had a narrow escape when a shot fired during a robbery at his business narrowly missed him.
The 55-year-old Malawian businessman was in his shop at 18:30 on Friday 29 March when two unknown men entered the shop on the pretext that they were customers. After walking to the fridge and enquiring after meat for sale, the men reportedly exited the shop.
Sergeant Abigail Naidoo, spokesperson for the Overberg Police Cluster, said the shop owner walked out and noticed that two other men were waiting outside for the two men.
“While standing in front of the counter the four men entered the shop,” she reported. “Two walked passed him and went behind the counter while the two others stood in front of the counter, and two men walked behind. They ordered him to lie down. The complainant was stabbed in the hand. One of the assailants allegedly told his accomplices they must shoot him.”
One shot was fired but luckily it missed the shop owner. One of the two children inside the shop at the time managed to escape, the other reportedly hit by the robbers.
“An unknown amount of money was stolen. A 9 mm cartridge was found at the scene,” said Naidoo. “The shop owner was taken to hospital by ambulance as he was bleeding heavily after he sustained a stab wound to the two middle fingers of his right hand.”
The police are investigating charges of business robbery and attempted murder. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the robbers can contact Villiersdorp police on 028 840 8000.
