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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 61-year-old businesswoman from Johnsly area under West Nicholson policing area lost R200 000 to four unknown gunmen who raided her homestead on Tuesday evening.
Egneter Dhlamini, who is co-owner of Nthabeni Store and Cophital Mine 22 in the area, was raided at around 10 pm.
The gunmen, who are still at large, are alleged to have arrived at the homestead dressed in blue work suits with yellow reflectors and armed with one firearm.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said investigations were in progress.
She said the police were appealing to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the robbers to contact the nearest police station.
“The suspects found the complainant asleep in her bedroom. Her four relatives were sleeping in separate rooms.
They broke the door to the house and forced everyone out demanding to be given some money by Dhlamini,” said Inspector Mangena.
She said the quartet threatened to kill the five people if they resisted taking orders or attempted to alert neighbours.
During the fracas, Dhlamini tried to resist prompting the suspects to fire two shots in the air.
Inspector Mangena said the woman collected R200 000 from her bedroom and handed the money to the four men who fired another two shots before disappearing into the darkness.
“We advise members of the public not to keep large sums of money at their houses to avoid the unnecessary loss of valuables to criminals,” said Inspector Mangena. -@tupeyo
Online Reporter