JUST IN:
Robbery at Boxer, Naledi, Soweto.
A police officer has been shot and wounded.
WATCH: pic.twitter.com/JZY1N6uHkY
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) April 2, 2026
a brazen daylight robbery that has shaken the heart of Soweto, armed criminals stormed a Boxer supermarket in Naledi this afternoon, leaving a police officer wounded by gunfire. Eyewitnesses described a scene of terror as shoppers fled for their lives amid popping gunshots and shattered glass.
The incident unfolded around 1 PM at the bustling Boxer store on Motso Street. Reports indicate a gang of at least four masked robbers, wielding handguns and rifles, burst in demanding cash from registers and tills. As responding officers from Orlando Police Station arrived, chaos erupted. One brave constable, identified only as Officer Thabo Mokoena (32), was shot in the shoulder while engaging the suspects. He was rushed to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in critical but stable condition.
“These criminals have no fear of God or man,” said local resident Mama Nomvula Khumalo, 58, who hid behind shelves during the ordeal. “We pray for our officer’s recovery and justice.” Soweto police spokesperson Captain Sipho Ngcobo confirmed the officer’s injury, stating two suspects were arrested at the scene with stolen goods worth over R50,000, while others fled in a silver Toyota Quantum.
This robbery highlights South Africa’s escalating violent crime wave, with Gauteng reporting a 15% rise in armed heists this year. Naledi, already scarred by poverty and gang violence, now grapples with fear. Community leaders urge vigilance, while the South African Police Service (SAPS) deploys extra patrols.
As Christians, let us stand in the gap. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1). Pray for Officer Mokoena’s healing, our protectors’ safety, and a turnaround in our communities. Rise above fear through faith—report crime, support one another, and trust God’s shield.
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