WITNESSES at an ATM bomb attack in Mayberry Park in Alberton, Ekurhuleni, have described how they survived the hair-raising experience.
About six armed men entered an Engen garage on Saturday at about 9.15pm. They held up staff and customers, bombed the ATM and took cash from the register before taking off in a silver VW Golf.
Shop attendant Isaac Mathe was in the shop during the attack but hardly seemed shaken by the incident. He says he has lost count of the number of armed robberies that he has lived through.
"In my 14 years working at this garage, I have been held up at gunpoint about 15 to 20 times," said Mathe yesterday.
"On Saturday night I just blanked out. It is difficult to explain the emotions. You just do what they tell you to do."
Mathe's daughter Damina Mohamed said she had been trying to convince her father to quit his job before he gets hurt while on duty.
"I'm scared for him."
Mojalefa Molotsoane, a customer who was at the garage at the time, said: "I was sitting just outside the garage when I noticed two guys with pistols.
"One came over to my friends and I. He was wearing a blue overall top, jeans and a balaclava so we could not see his face.
"I threw my cellphone on the ground thinking they wanted to rob us but the guy said 'just chill guys. Do not move, we are not here for you. We just want the white man's money'.
"After a couple of minutes there was a loud explosion and he told us to run.
"The guys seemed very professional. They were fast, no violence and they were in control of the situation."
Store owner Mohammed Asvat said that in 1998 the store was robbed 13 times. He said that he had been held at gunpoint in his back office three times and his sister, who co-owns the garage, twice.
"Every year there has been a robbery here. I have thought of closing shop but what is encouraging is that the robbers have always been caught by the police," said Asvat.
Captain Manaka Paphulu of Alberton police said: "The robbers' vehicle had no number plates. Two suspects had AK47s but no shots were fired. The suspects escaped with an undisclosed amount of money."
Last Wednesday police in neighbouring Thokoza township had discovered explosives believed to be used in ATM bombings in a house at Mpilisweni Section. Three suspects were arrested.
SCARY: Another ATM blast
WITNESSES at an ATM bomb attack in Mayberry Park in Alberton, Ekurhuleni, have described how they survived the hair-raising experience.
About six armed men entered an Engen garage on Saturday at about 9.15pm. They held up staff and customers, bombed the ATM and took cash from the register before taking off in a silver VW Golf.
Shop attendant Isaac Mathe was in the shop during the attack but hardly seemed shaken by the incident. He says he has lost count of the number of armed robberies that he has lived through.
"In my 14 years working at this garage, I have been held up at gunpoint about 15 to 20 times," said Mathe yesterday.
"On Saturday night I just blanked out. It is difficult to explain the emotions. You just do what they tell you to do."
Mathe's daughter Damina Mohamed said she had been trying to convince her father to quit his job before he gets hurt while on duty.
"I'm scared for him."
Mojalefa Molotsoane, a customer who was at the garage at the time, said: "I was sitting just outside the garage when I noticed two guys with pistols.
"One came over to my friends and I. He was wearing a blue overall top, jeans and a balaclava so we could not see his face.
"I threw my cellphone on the ground thinking they wanted to rob us but the guy said 'just chill guys. Do not move, we are not here for you. We just want the white man's money'.
"After a couple of minutes there was a loud explosion and he told us to run.
"The guys seemed very professional. They were fast, no violence and they were in control of the situation."
Store owner Mohammed Asvat said that in 1998 the store was robbed 13 times. He said that he had been held at gunpoint in his back office three times and his sister, who co-owns the garage, twice.
"Every year there has been a robbery here. I have thought of closing shop but what is encouraging is that the robbers have always been caught by the police," said Asvat.
Captain Manaka Paphulu of Alberton police said: "The robbers' vehicle had no number plates. Two suspects had AK47s but no shots were fired. The suspects escaped with an undisclosed amount of money."
Last Wednesday police in neighbouring Thokoza township had discovered explosives believed to be used in ATM bombings in a house at Mpilisweni Section. Three suspects were arrested.
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