MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A tavern owner was shot in a robbery and later died of his wounds on Monday, 2 December, in KwaNonqaba.
This follows a recent spate of business robberies in the area.
On Monday at 13:00, three armed robbers entered a business premises in Sixaxeni Street, from where a tavern is operated. They are described to have worn blue overalls. Seven people, including a child, were at the premises when the suspects entered, demanding cash.
One of the people, Henry Mouers, the owner of Real Star tavern in Frans Avenue, resisted the robbers, who consequentially fired at him, wounding him in the arm. Mouers, according to reports, again resisted his assailant which resulted in further shots being fired at him. He sustained seven bullet wounds and later on the same day, succumbed to his wounds at a local hospital.
The robbers fled with a large amount in cash.
According to the police, the description of the suspects does not match that of the other incidents that have been reported. Mouers' tavern in Frans Avenue was robbed on Sunday, 13 October. He was in the process of having his property rezoned in an attempt to curb crime like robbery and assault.
Robbers rampant
In November, three business robberies were reported in less than a week, in which spaza shops in KwaNonqaba were targeted. Police believe that the same suspects might be responsible for all three crimes.
The first incident took place on Sunday, 17 November at 20:20 in Stofile Street. Two suspects went into a shop to buy cigarettes. One of the suspects produced a firearm and fired two shots at the shop owner. The suspects took off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police were still at the crime scene when approximately 45 minutes later, another business robbery occurred close by in Sijaji Street. Here, three suspects robbed a spaza shop of cash. One of the suspects produced a firearm and ordered shoppers, among them several children, to lie down on the floor.
The following week, on 19 November at 20:10, four armed suspects robbed a spaza shop in Nyibia Street, KwaNonqaba. They allegedly held the shop owner at gun point and ordered others in the shop, including children to lie down. The suspects fled from the scene in a white Toyota Avanza with yellow registration plates.
It was reported that all the businesses targeted belong to foreign nationals. No arrests have been made to date.
Latest incidents
The KwaNonqaba Police report that a business robbery took place on Friday, 29 November at a spaza shop in Maseko Street at approximately 21:00. Three men with firearms entered the shop and fled with a sizable cash amount and cartons of cigarettes. The shop owner was wounded in the shoulder during the incident.
On Saturday, 30 November at 21:05, another business robbery took place at a spaza shop in Mawawa Street. Three armed suspects fled with cigarettes, airtime vouchers and a sizable amount of cash.
Upon leaving the premises, one of the suspects discharged a bullet from his firearm into the air. The robbers fled on foot. Friends of the victim pursued the robbers by car and knocked one of the suspects down with a vehicle, breaking his leg. At the time of going to press, the suspect was still under police surveillance in a hospital in George.
According to the KwaNonqaba Police, suspects involved in all of these crimes, fit the same description.
Assist the police
According to the KwaNonqaba Police, investigations are hampered when evidence is destroyed. "We implore shop owners to desist from trading, close their shops and immediately call the police following a robbery," says spokesperson, Sgt Kappie Kapp.
"Shop owners continue trading and touching items that could produce valuable evidence like fingerprints."
Sgt Kapp also urged the victims of these crimes to try to remain calm. "When you are calm, you are more observant and can identify the suspects in order to assist with arrests. Do not resist the robbers. Listen to their demands and submit. Do not endanger your own or others' lives by trying to be a hero."
A monetary reward is offered for any positive information that could lead to the arrest of any of the suspects.
Contact the head of the detective department, Capt Michaels (082 334 7566).
Read a previous article: Gewonde seun (14) terug in ma se sorg na rooftog
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
