Soweto brothers await trial for Alex business robbery

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Two Soweto brothers, aged 35 and 39, were remanded in custody by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court after being arrested for a business robbery committed on 17 March at a supermarket at Alex Plaza Shopping Centre.

It was alleged that the brothers committed the crime with four other suspects who managed to flee the scene. The court heard that the suspects, who were armed, overpowered security guards on patrol around the shopping centre.

It was alleged that two of the suspects came out of the building pretending to be part of the security team. They overpowered a guard near the shop and led him into the building where he found a colleague already in captivity. After a while, three of the suspects came out and allegedly overpowered another guard who they also brought into the building and held captive.

The suspects were said to have, once again, gone to look for other guards, but were met at the shop’s door by police officers who had been alerted to the robbery in progress thanks to a tip-off.

Police officers were said to have asked the suspects to vacate the premises, but they retreated into the building and exited at the back where police reinforcement met them as they jumped over a fence and ran across a road. A shootout ensued and four of the suspects evaded arrest. During the shootout, one police vehicle was damaged.

One of the brothers was apprehended while running away, and the other was hauled out of his hiding place inside a nearby recycling building. A firearm with nine bullets was found in one of the brother’s possession. Police officers also recovered a grey school bag suspected to belong to the suspects. A pair of pliers, a side cutter, screwdriver, keys, a set of sockets, gloves, a balaclava and 10 cable ties were found in the bag.

The security guards were not harmed but two cellphones were stolen. Whether or not items from the shop were stolen remains unclear.

The case continues.