An Ethiopian businessman was allegedly shot and injured during an armed robbery at Ha-Ramantsha village in the Sinthumule area last Saturday.

Mr Abra Bashera (45) was allegedly shot and injured by three unknown men, who went into his store and demanded money at gunpoint. Bashera was allegedly shot in the right thigh.

The spokesperson for the Tshilwavhusiku police, Const Godwin Mahuwa, said that the incident happened shortly after 20:00, when three heavily armed suspects went into a local store and allegedly shot and injured the owner. "The suspects fired five rounds and then robbed the owner of the store of R5 000," he said.

He added that two counts of attempted murder and business robbery had been opened with the police. "The victim was rushed to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital. The police investigation is still continuing," said Mahuwa.

A similar incident happened in the area in October last year, where a 23-year-old man, Mr Eyakor Dawit, was shot and wounded during an armed robbery at the nearby Gogobole village. Nobody has been arrested following the incident.