'I just wanted to get away'
2008-07-06 23:16
Johannesburg - The only thing standing between a gang of armed robbers and their freedom on Sunday was a man and his car.
The robbers had attacked a transit vehicle in Westonaria, and Baba Dobson, 36, subsequently accidentally crashed into one of their getaway vehicles with his Toyota Tazz during their wild race to get away.
According to Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini two Protea Coin guards went to collect money at Shoprite Checkers in Westonaria at about 09:30.
When one of the man stepped out of the supermarket he was overpowered. The other gang members started firing at the second guard in the transit vehicle.
They fled with two money trunks - in three cars.
Dobson, who works as a bodyguard, was on his way to church, where his wife and son were waiting for him. When he stopped to buy a sweet for his son he saw the armed men.
"So, I jumped into my car and sped off. My plan was just to get away."
The robbers followed in their three getaway vehicles and, in the chase, Dobson collided with one of their cars, a Toyota Corolla, which landed on its roof after uprooting a tree.
The impact of the collision was so great that one of the robbers' cars overturned. Three of the suspects were arrested within minutes.
By Sunday afternoon, eight more suspects had been arrested.
"My car is a write-off," said unlikely hero Dobson.