Store staff held up at gunpoint for coke and cigarettes

QUICK-THINKING by a brave manager at a supermarket averted a potential life-threatening situation involving a gunman with too much on his mind.

The man yesterday held up staff at Pick n Pay store at Elgin Mall, Kempton Park, in Ekurhuleni, just for a Coke and a packet of cigarettes.

He later handed himself in to the police.

Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said: "The manger avoided shouting that there was a man with a gun, which could have further agitated the man. Instead, he instructed staff to conduct a fire evacuation.

"The man demanded Coke and a packet of cigarettes. He had a smoke while drinking Coke and chatted with the manager about what was bothering him," said Mogale.

Pick n Pay spokesperson Tamra Veley said: "Early this morning a man entered the Pick n Pay franchise store in the Elgin Mall in Kempton Park.

"He approached one of the store managers and showed him that he was in possession of a firearm and instructed him to evacuate the store.

"The store manager walked with the man, asking staff to implement evacuation plans for the store. All customers and staff were safely evacuated.

"The general manager of the store approached the manager, who told him that the man had a firearm and that he should leave the store. He called the South African Police Tactical Unit and alerted the mall's security to clear the mall."

The man handed himself over to police.

Veley said the manager who was held hostage by the man is receiving counselling and recovering.