"Don’t make a noise or I’ll shoot you," was the warning from one of the armed men who robbed Louis Trichardt businessman Mr Eddie da Silva in front of his home on Thursday evening, September 6. They made off with an undisclosed amount of money, with Mr Da Silva being lucky to survive the attack.

The armed robbery was the third violent crime in Louis Trichardt within a two-day period last week. Early Wednesday morning, a resident from Rondebosch was stabbed to death during a housebreaking and less than 12 hours later businessman Yogendra Baboo Ghelani (60) was shot dead and his father, Baboo Mohanlal Ghelani (84), wounded during an armed robbery at their family shop in Eltivillas.

Mr Da Silva, owner of a local KFC-franchise, told the Zoutpansberger that he arrived at his home in Barnard Street after closing for business. After his electric gate opened he drove inside, got out and started walking toward his front door. Suddenly, a group of armed men appeared, pointing a firearm at him.

After threatening to shoot him if he made a noise or tried to escape, the gunmen searched Mr Da Silva for weapons and valuables. After this he was ordered to walk back to his vehicle and to get inside. At this stage Mr Da Silva refused, upon which the robbers demanded that he take out the vehicle’s keys and throw them away. This Mr Da Silva did. The gunmen then took the KFC bag Mr Da Silva was holding, containing some food as well as the day’s takings at the franchise. They then ordered Mr Da Silva to open the gate, after which they fled into the night.

Both the SAPS and members of the Soutpansberg Townwatch were informed of the robbery. Within minutes people were looking for the suspects, who disappeared into the forest plantation, but to no avail. The only thing found was an empty KFC box believed to have contained the money.

Although robbed, Mr Da Silva is glad to have survived this terrible ordeal. It is the third time he has been the victim of an armed robbery.

At the time of going to press, police were still looking for the suspects. Any person with information is urged to contact Capt Fransico Ramovha at tel. 082 565 8171.