Johannesburg - Security guards were shot at by a gang who had just bombed an ATM in White City, Soweto, early Thursday morning.
The machine placed near the popular entertainment venue, Panyaza Braai and Pub, was bombed at about 2am.
Besides the damage to the wall where the ATM was mounted, the police say they are unsure of the extent of the damage to the surrounding areas. It was unknown what kind of explosive was used.
Sergeant Khalipha Mvula of the Soweto police said Stallion Security guards were responding to a panic button alert. “On arrival at the scene, the security guards were shot at, but luckily no one got hurt. At the moment, we don’t know how many (bombers) there were,” Mvula said.
The police couldn't confirm a link between this bombing and a Diepkloof incident where a pensioner was killed, but said it was possible that the crimes were committed by the same gang.
Abel Lenyekwane, 69, was killed when a sharp steel object pierced his back when a gang of about 10 robbers bombed an ATM on Tuesday. When The Star visited the bereaved family, Lenyekwane’s aunt Sizakhele Molefe had just returned from the mortuary to identify his body. She sat in her bedroom washing the bloodstained clothes he was wearing when he was killed.
“I am so heartbroken. Abel was a father figure to his six grandchildren. He was always happy to look after them when we are busy, we are at work,” Molefe said. “We watched the news on TV that a pensioner was killed while in the queue, but we never thought it could be him.”
Molefe said the police told the family that Lenyekwane was killed by a sharp steel-like object which flew out of the bombed cash machine.
“It is not true that he was shot. When we arrived where he died, police had just removed the object. We could not see it.
“I was so shocked when I saw some people cleaning his blood on the floor. I knew then that it was real.”
Lenyekwane’s daughter Khutshofalo sat quietly in the living room as neighbours and family members gathered. His sister-in-law Thandi sat on a couch, visibly shaken, while a neighbour comforted her.
“I do not understand why he is the only one killed. He was so peaceful. We looked up to him for advice on many things,” said Thandi.
She said Lenyekwane helped the family survive with his pension money. “He used his money to help out with buying food and other things we needed in the house. His death has left a hole in our family.”
The Star