Early morning shoppers and stall owners setting up stalls for the day ducked for cover when armed robbers fired shots randomly in a bid to escape after a failed robbery. In the confusion, an unlucky shopper was injured by a shot fired by one of the robbers.

The drama started when robbers who attempted to rob a nearby business were disturbed when the employees of the business raised the alarm, forcing the robbers to escape empty handed. The incident happened at a busy shopping complex in the Thohoyandou CBD last Thursday morning.

During the commotion, a woman fainted and had to receive emergency treatment. Within minutes of the incident, the area was swarming with onlookers.

Meanwhile, angry members of the community had taken it upon themselves to chase one of the robbers. He was eventually captured and subjected to "people’s justice". Only the timely arrival of the police saved the robber from being killed by the furious mob. Police who tried to whisk away the captured robber had their van surrounded by the angry mob, who were baying for the robber’s blood.

Eyewitnesses said the men had earlier attempted to rob a shop. Ms Mpho Ramazhamba, who works for the targetted business, said she was busy unpacking cloting when three men arrived and entered the shop. She said they went for the owner of the shop and said they wanted to make a laybye for something. "Out of the blue, I heard a commotion between one of the men, who was holding a firearm, and the owner, while the other two rushed to the back room," she said.

She said she realized that something was wrong and that her employers were in danger. "I risked being shot for the sake of my employers and ran outside shouting for help. That was when all hell broke loose. Shots were fired and some scuttled for cover, while the brave ones chased the robbers."

Mr Reggie Nengovhela, who owns a repair shop next to the spot where the incident happened, said he was busy opening his shop when he heard noises. "I ran to the road and noticed three men approaching. They started firing shots, and I believe they were trying to scare those who had assembled at the scene," he said.

He said two of the men ran in one direction while the other one ran in a different direction.

"After they had left, I realized that a man had been wounded in the leg and many people were gathering at the scene," he said. Nengovhela said he had not yet recovered from a similar incident that happened in February next to where his shop is.

"We had to duck for cover when robbers who were robbing an airtime business fired shots wildly during the robbery.  We are happy this time around that they managed to arrest one of the robbers," he said.

Capt Mashudu Malelo, the Thohoyandou police spokesperperson, said they had arrested a 32-year-old man on a charge of attempted murder and attempted robbery. "We managed to recover a 9mm pistol with its serial numbers filed off, as well as nine rounds of ammunition," added Malelo. He said the arrested suspect would appear in court soon.

In another, unrelated incident, police have recaptured a 31-year-old man who had earlier escaped from the Thohoyandou Magistrate Court's holding cells. It is alleged a police official was locking  the holding cells when the suspect,  who was appearing for armed robbery, forced his way out. Police and members of the public gave chase. While being arrested, the man grabbed  a police firearm and, in the ensuing struggle, a shot went off, but fortunately no one was hit.

Malelo said the man would appear in court soon, charged with  an additional charge of escaping from lawful custody.