‘Longest 5 minutes of my life’

Published Aug 4, 2015

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Cape Town - “Give me your guns,” some of the six men shouted to two security guards before forcing their way into a Shoprite store in Philippi.

“Voetsek, get inside,” the robbers threatened the guards shortly after 3pm on Sunday, hitting them repeatedly with their firearms until they fell to the ground.

They eventually left with an undisclosed amount of money as well as the guards’ firearms.

The robbers struck when the store had already closed and was serving only the customers still inside.

I had gone to the shop to buy a newspaper and was standing in a queue when I endured the longest five minutes of my life.

“Everybody down and no one move,” was my cue to lie on my stomach as quickly as possible, my face turned to the side, with my hands on top of my head. Having learnt from a similar experience, I ensured that my hands were visible in case the robbers suspected me of trying to do anything to thwart them.

The shoppers were screaming and running in different directions in the store.

There was no chance to escape because two of the robbers were guarding the entrance while the other four demanded money from the tellers.

“Don’t look at my face,” a robber warned a teller.

None of them had bothered to hide their faces.

“Give me the money, all of it, quickly. My sister, don’t try any funny business or I will shoot you. This is the rich man’s money and not your money, so don’t hesitate or you’ll regret. Give it to me,” shouted a robber.

The reporter in me momentarily entertained using my cellphone to snap some photographs. Reality prevailed as life is worth much more than pictures.

At some point I heard gunshots, about 10 of them.

I anxiously thought of my family and friends, and was left shivering after one of the robbers jumped over me when they fled the store.

There was a moment of silence, until someone yelled: “They (the robbers) are gone.”

People started crying and I think they were shocked. We were not allowed to leave the store until the police arrived.

At the entrance, the security guards lay bleeding with wounds to their heads.

One woman, who was carrying a young child, cried uncontrollably as she searched for her other child.

Shoprite spokesperson Sarita van Wyk said: “Shoprite can confirm that its store in Philippi, on the corner of Lansdowne and Eisleben roads, was attacked by armed robbers yesterday. But we have to refer you to the police for information on the case as it is under their investigation.”

Hearing that I was in the store at the time of the robbery, Van Wyk said: “I am sorry to hear that you were in the store at the time of the robbery.

“It must be an awful experience, but I am happy to hear that you are well and at work.

“I also only know that one of the guards was assaulted and not shot, and that he was the only one injured.”

Police spokesperson André Traut confirmed the robbery and that staff were held at gunpoint, but could not disclose the amount of cash taken.

“A business robbery case has been opened for further investigation and no arrests have yet been made.”

Traut said anyone with information should contact Crimestop on 08600 10111 or the Philippi East SAPS on 021 370 1900.

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Cape Times

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