Graskop SouthAfrica German Tourists attacked by three black gunmen at West Lodge and Breakfast, an hour later at the Fire Break pub one of the 3 gunmen, Rodney Ngomane 30 of Hazyview was shot shot dead at the Fire Break pub in police shootout after attendant Jaco Botha had to kneel, waiting for the thugs to execute him:
-- Stefan de Villiers reports on 21 October 2014 that "Botha, one of the victims of the armed robber (identified as Rodney Ngomane 30 of Hazyview) -- who was
shot and killed during a shoot-out with police last week, recalled the terrible ordeal he had suffered during an armed attack by the robber and his accomplices on the Fire Break Pub on Friday October 10. Ngomane and two other Heroes of the South African Revolution hadrushed into the West Lodge Bed & Breakfast earlier
that day where they threatened German tourists and robbed them of a mere 15 euros and some 'valuable' items. The tourists were lucky to escape uninjured.
Later that day, they targeted Fire Break Pub. Here the suspects, who were all wearing balaclavas, held attendant Mr Jaco Botha at gunpoint and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, a laptop and a phone. Botha suffered a serious injury to his hand and narrowly escaped death. A week before the incident, also on a night that Botha was on duty, suspects had also broken into the bar after he had left, but luckily there was no cash in the register. The burglars left with a bottle of Bells whisky. It is suspected that it was the same group of men responsible for the first break-in who returned on October 10. This time they waited until Botha was at the pub, knowing that he would cash up before he left. After he had locked the building he went to the parking lot to meet up with his friends, where the armed suspects caught him by surprise en route. Another employee saw the three trespassers and immediately phoned for help. One of the suspects allegedly heard him speak to the police, and told his accomplices to hurry up. “They seemed very edgy,” said Botha, and this is when he starting to fear for his life. “I told them to please calm down, and gave them the cash that was in my backpack. They asked me what else I had in the bag, whereupon I gave them my valuable belongings. I hoped that by keeping them busy, I would win a bit of time,” said Botha. They then took his backpack and in the scuffle, one of the suspect’s balaclava was nearly ripped off and the latter thought his identity had been revealed. He then instructed one of his accomplices to shoot and kill Botha. The latter was forced to the ground, with a gun against his head. The nervous gunman said he was going to count to five, and then do as he was instructed to.
BOTHA: “This was the longest five seconds of my life. He started counting and when he reached four, my backpack fell to the ground and, knowing how valuable the content is, I tried to catch it.” The man thought Botha was reaching for a weapon and got a fright. He then tried to stab Botha, but in a desperate attempt to survive, the latter blocked the blade with his hand, almost losing his thumb in the process. The suspects then fled the scene with Botha’s valuables. With blood streaming from his hand, Botha ran to his friends, who were unaware of the attack. They tried to stop the bleeding. His friends, who are all part of Graskop’s neighbourhood watch called “Die Meerkatte”, drove around looking for the men as the police had still not arrived. Botha then rushed to the nearest computer to track his stolen phone. He saw that the thugs were hiding barely a block from where the incident occurred. He notified the rest of “Die Meerkatte” of the suspects’ whereabouts. This was near a police officer’s home. Armed with his service pistol, the officer also went looking for them. He spotted the suspects near his home, still wearing their balaclavas. One of them opened fire, narrowly missing the officer. In an attempt to defend himself, he shot and killed one of the attackers. The other two fled, one with a bullet wound to the shoulder. The deceased was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition and some of the items allegedly stolen at the two lodges. During the investigation it was found that the suspect had possibly been involved in other crimes in the area.
Botha recently underwent surgery to his hand, and doctors at Mediclinic Nelspruit were able to save his thumb. “Luckily none of my nerves or ligaments were damaged, and I will soon be able to retain its full use, but that is the least of my worries, I am very grateful to be alive.” PAGE GRAB OF REPORT ATTACHED.
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