Gunwoman shoots pub owner

2003-04-13 09:45

Dumisane Zondi and Jabulile Ngwenya

Pietermaritzburg - The owner of the Botanical Gardens pub is recuperating in hospital after she was shot by a female robber on Thursday evening.

Lourinda Botha, 48, was attacked by a woman aged about 20 in her office at about 18:30.

The woman came in asking for change for the telephone.

Pub manager Mike Holliday said that when Botha opened the safe, the woman drew a firearm and aimed at Botha's forehead, but Botha pushed the firearm down. The gun went off and Botha was shot in the thigh, with the bullet exiting through her knee.

The woman grabbed a money box containing at least R6 000 from the safe. Holliday believes the robber knew there was money in the safe.

The woman jumped over the fence at the back of the pub and then got a lift from a passing motorist.

Holliday said police have not traced the suspect, but have spoken to the motorist.

Botha's husband Tinus said he was in a family flat about 40m away when he heard his 10-year-old daughter Jackie shouting that somebody had shot her mother.

"I got up, grabbed my gun and rushed to the scene, only to find that the attacker had fled. My son, who is 15 years old, immediately jumped to the phone and called the police and the ambulance," said Tinus.

The pub was full when the incident occurred, and a full description of the robber has been given to the police, who responded within minutes of the incident. None of the patrons had previously seen the woman on the premises.

Botha was rushed to hospital in a stable condition. Doctors will only decide how to treat her splintered knee cap once the swelling has subsided.

- The Witness