Durban - A Caltex garage employee told the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday of his ordeal at the hands of a gang of ATM bombers who held a rifle to his head in December 2012.
Sifiso Makhaya, 36, was testifying at the trial of 10 men charged with the murder of a policeman and several ATM bombings, that terrorised the Midlands between September 28, 2012, and January 13, 2013.
Makhaya said early on December 5, 2012, he was working as the cashier at the 24-hour kiosk at the Caltex Garage in Utrecht when he and his colleague, Thulani Hlongwane, heard shots ring out.
“The first gunshot cracked the door and Thulani cried out. I was in a state of shock. I did not know what was happening,” Makhaya said.
He explained that when the second gunshot rang out, he looked outside and saw a gunman, with his face covered, enter the kiosk.
“At that stage I was confused and I tried to grab the man’s rifle. I saw that Thulani was injured, and then I saw two other men come into the shop. One of the men told me to lie down and I complied,” Makhaya said.
Makhaya explained that he was then called to open the till and was instructed to place the cash from the till into a money-bag that contained cash in coins which was kept on the counter as a “float”.
The masked gunmen then took Makhaya and Hlongwane out of the kiosk and they were told to lie on the ground outside. With rifles pointed at their heads, the two frightened men complied with their attackers.
Makhaya said he noticed a white vehicle parked in front of the ATM at the garage, and next to the vehicle, he saw three more gunmen, all carrying rifles.
The next thing he knew, Makhaya said he heard a massive bang.
“I was not sure what was happening. I was very scared. Then I heard more loud bangs and I realised at that stage that the ATM was being bombed,” he said.
Makhaya said he then saw another vehicle approaching the garage, and before anything else, the gunmen opened fire on the vehicle. Two occupants of the vehicle, later identified as Sizwe Gule and Patricia Nkosi, were killed.
Makhaya said he was not sure how much longer after the gunmen shot at the approaching vehicle that the rifle was removed from the side of his head and the gunmen watching over him walked towards the ATM.
“Thulani and I got up and ran for cover underneath some trucks that were parked near the garage,” Makhaya said.
The two men remained there for some time until police arrived. By that time, the gunmen had already fled.
The accused are: Thembela Ngubane, 27; Menzi Mdakane, 28; Sifiso Mdakane, 32; Sifiso Kubheka, 28; Sibongiseni Msibi, 33; Sphelele Dubazane, 27; Muthikabani Buthelezi, 31; Mthenjwa Buthelezi 27; Lungisani Dladla, 32; and Siphiwe Mabizela, 34.
The indictment reflects 31 charges in total, which include robbery with aggravating circumstances, contravening the Explosives Act and causing an explosion, malicious damage to property, attempted murder, murder and charges of unlawful possession of explosives, machine rifles, prohibited firearms and ammunition.
All pleaded not guilty to the charges. Some of the charges include the killing of K9 unit Constable Vidhur Jadoo, who died in a shoot-out in Howick on November 7, 2012.
The suspects were arrested in Jozini on January 13, 2013, and allegedly found in possession of 119 AK-47 rounds, three AK-47s, a .45 ACP pistol, explosives and electric detonators.
They are alleged to have stolen more than R1 million in the ATM bomb heists.
Daily News