Man killed trying to catch robbers

A BRAVE attempt to apprehend two fleeing robbers ended in tragedy when an Eastern Cape man was shot and killed in a chase that lasted three hours.

One of the robbers was shot dead and a second beaten to death by residents.

The incident happened around 11am at Clarkebury Village near Ngcobo on Tuesday when five armed men staged an armed robbery at the local post office.

“They went into the post office and pointed guns at staff and demanded money,” said Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela.

“The robbers managed to take an undisclosed amount of money before trying to flee.”

Two robbers carrying bags ran towards a car, where a third suspect was waiting, and sped off. Two ran in the direction of the forest with residents in hot pursuit.

Word of the robbery quickly spread and more residents rushed out to search for the suspects, who had disappeared into the forest.

A group of residents cornered the two, but one robber opened fire and shot 37-year-old Kwanele Sokapase at point blank range.

He died on the scene and the two escaped. Police arrived and warned residents to steer clear as they continued the chase.

Officers caught up with one suspect, who fired at police.

They returned fire, killing the suspect while the second who had been ahead, fled.

The second suspect was later apprehended by another group of residents and beaten to death. Fatyela said the two dead robbers had been identified as Ayanda Dangazala and Mzukisi Mkhululi.

Sokapase’s distraught family yesterday shared their sorrow.

His aunt Nokonwaba Stofile said: “Our hearts are bleeding. He was a quiet gentleman and someone who was also very fun to be around.

“We are saddened at how he lost his life trying to lend a helping hand.”

The Daily Dispatch spoke to several residents, who did not want to give their names fearing the robbers could return to harm them.

They told the story of the three-hour chase and showed where Sokapase and the two robbers died.

“Everyone in the village was just giving chase while we also summoned residents of surrounding villages to help,” said a young man who had been part of the chase.

“They were firing shots as they were running with villagers in hot pursuit.”

Sub-headman Bonisile Ntikinca claimed it was the fourth time the post office had been robbed in the last five years.

He said road construction workers had drawn their wages at the post office.

“How did they know that there would be money there?” Ntikinca asked, adding that he suspected someone had tipped the suspects off about the money.

He said Sokapase’s death had left the whole village numb.

He also called the police to consider setting up a satellite police station nearby as the nearest station was in Ngcobo, more than 50km from the village.

Fatyela said police had called for back up from their counterparts in Dutywa after the three robbers, who escaped, drove in the direction of Dutywa.

“They managed to stop it and arrest one suspect. A 9mm pistol was also found inside the car,” added the spokesman.

The suspect arrested was the only person in the car when stopped, and the other two suspects are still on the run.

A substantial amount, which was not revealed, of the money taken from the post office was also recovered.

Fatyela said the suspect who had been arrested had been charged with armed robbery.

The confiscated firearms would be sent for ballistic tests to check if they had been used to commit other crimes.

Police were also trying to link the arrested man to previous armed robberies at the same post office in the past, said Fatyela.

“We would like to offer our condolences to the Sokapase family on their loss. We also want to express our gratitude to the villagers who helped give chase after the post office was robbed.”

The spokesman said the search for the two missing robbers was continuing.

“We would like to urge anyone with information to come forward so that we can catch these two suspects,” he said. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za