Shop workers held hostage
10/12/2007 17:20  - (SA)  

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Men up for kidnap, murder 'Name the crime, we've had it' Shoppers in 7hr 'hostage' drama

Verashni Pillay

Kimberley - A group of armed men took about 30 Shoprite store employees hostage in Kathu in the Northern Cape early on Monday morning, police told News24.

The employees were approaching the store on the corner of Ben Alberts and Rietbok streets to open it at 06:30 when the attack took place, said police spokesperson Superintendent Hendrik Swarts.

The armed men, hiding near the entrance, made the employees open the shop at gunpoint. They then forced the employees into the shop, taking them hostage.

However, one of the employees managed to escape and alerted police.

When the police arrived, said Swarts, the men had fled without taking anything.

"I think they were surprised and that's why they didn't take anything."

Swart said it was not clear how many robbers there had been.

No one was hurt and the incident.

The manager of the Shoprite store declined commenting on the incident when contacted by News24.

- News24

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