Durban - Two alleged robbers were killed and another critically wounded by a security guard, who said the trio had tried to rob him on Friday morning.
The 33-year-old guard who works for Isidingo Security company, was returning from work in Ballim Road, Hammarsdale, when he was accosted by the three men who tried to rob him.
The guard, who requested anonymity for his safety, said everything happened so fast that he was caught off guard.
“The three men appeared from the bushes next to the road side and they pointed firearms at me. It was still dusk and I was confused because they did not utter a word, but just pushed me into the bushes,” said the guard.
He said the three started pushing him around.
After a while he remembered he was also carrying a gun.
“Everything happened so fast that I can’t tell how long it took from the time they pushed me into the bush to the time I fired the shots.
“I don’t know whether they fired back or not, all I know is that they were hit to the front,” he said.
He said after the shots were fired he went to the police station to report the incident. Two officers took him back to the scene where two of the alleged assailants were found dead.
“I told the police that there was a third guy whom I left lying on the ground injured. We found him hiding in the bush.”
At the police station while making a statement, the guard said people came in to lay robbery charges, claiming they had been robbed by the same men.
A police contact in the area said before the shooting, the trio had robbed two people.
“One of the alleged robbers who died at the scene was wearing a jacket and shoes which he had taken from one of the victims. The victim identified his jacket,” said the contact.
Isidingo security manager in Hammarsdale, Izaak Mhlongo, said they were not aware of the incident because it happened when the guard was off duty.
Provincial police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, confirmed the incident, adding that two firearms belonging to the suspects were recovered at the scene.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, warned people to remain vigilant when travelling to and from work.
“We have opened an inquest docket,” she said.
Daily News