An escaping group of armed robbers left a runner critically injured after their getaway car ploughed into a road race in Bedfordview on Sunday morning.
Sipho Mlangeni, 43, of the Soweto Cabal Running Club, was said to be in a stable but serious condition in intensive care.
According to police, the four suspects in a minibus were being chased by a reaction unit after robbing the Chicago Spur in Van Buuren Road.
Staff at the restaurant described the robbery as “traumatising”, with two managers being badly beaten by the gang.
“It was just before 9.30am,” said one of the managers, who did not want to be named. “I noticed that there were too many people standing in the reception area, and all of a sudden I felt that something wasn’t right, like getting butterflies in your stomach.”
He walked up to the group of men, only to have a 9mm pistol pointed in his face.
“I told him there was no need to kill anybody, we would give him the money, just please don’t hurt anyone,” said the manager.
In response, the robber struck him on the back of the head with the pistol and led him into the kitchen, where the staff were forced to lie on the ground while their cellphones and cash were stolen. The company safe had been emptied the night before.
Another manager was kicked, beaten and sprayed with pepper spray.
“They even took his shoes,” said his colleague.
The three men then fled, jumping into a minibus waiting with a driver outside.
Meanwhile, one of the security guards had alerted his superiors, and the minibus found itself immediately tailed by a reaction unit.
The robbers turned into Kings Road, but it had been cordoned off for the annual Pick n Pay Marathon.
The minibus then slammed into Mlangeni. He was the only runner injured in the incident.
The four occupants ditched the vehicle and made a run for it. One of the men was caught.
“But the other three, including the driver of the minibus, are still at large,” said police spokesman Warrant Officer William Masondo.
Mlangeni was airlifted to Netcare Union Hospital in Alberton.
Soweto Cabal chairman Rio Matlhaku said Mlangeni had been running with the club for about five years.
“He started off quite slowly, but he has now run about three Comrades and three Two Oceans marathons,” Matlhaku said.
Pick n Pay spokeswoman Tamra Veley said the organisers were keeping in close contact with Mlangeni’s family.
“The marathon is designed as a community event, drawing wide participation from Gauteng and further afield,” said Veley.
“This accident is tragic and very upsetting.” - The Star