WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO BELOW NOT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS
Shoppers said they had to flee and hide at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre in Pretoria East on Sunday as gunshots rang through the air.
Messages on social media indicated that there was a robbery in progress, but details remain scanty.
Security guards ushered people out of the mall and prevented others from coming in.
Hendrick Makaneta of the Education Social Justice Foundation was one of the shoppers stopped by security at the mall entrance.
He said while security was explaining that there was a robbery in progress he “heard shooting” from inside.
Makaneta said he decided to leave the area.
Videos of an injured man lying in a pool of blood made the rounds, but it remained unclear what exactly was taking place at Menlyn Shopping Mall.
Reports from the scene say a gang of armed robbers apparently hit a jewellery store and made off with their loot.
One person was treated for multiple gunshot wounds and airlifted to the hospital. It is not clear why the man was shot.
Police are yet to comment on the robbery.
Menlyn Park Shopping Centre said in a statement that “a shooting on its premises following an armed robbery at a jewellery store this afternoon”.
The statement attributed to Ignatius Sathekge, communications and brand manager, added: “It has been reported that a security guard and a civilian have been shot and have subsequently been taken away by ambulance for further medical attention.”
Police are on-site and have taken control of the situation.
The centre said: regrettably entrance 3 remains closed. The rest of the shopping centre has been declared safe and is open for trade.
“Apologies for the inconvenience to our customers.”
More to follow …
GET AWAY PLAN: How the robbers beat the spikes 
GET AWAY PLAN: How the robbers beat the spikes
