Two men remanded after armed robbery at Dordrecht shop

Two men have appeared in the Dordrecht Magistrate’s Court after being arrested in connection with an alleged armed business robbery at a shop in Munnikville, Dordrecht.

According to Eastern Cape police, Sizwe Happy Mashinini, 46, and Moses Bakwena, 46, appeared in court on Thursday, 9 July 2026, on charges of business robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and possession of suspected stolen property. They were arrested by members of the Dordrecht SAPS on Wednesday, 8 July.

Police allege the robbery took place at about 7:30pm on Tuesday, 7 July, at the business premises of a 39-year-old Ethiopian national in Munnikville.

According to police, a gunshot was heard outside the shop before two men allegedly forced their way inside. Eight young men who had reportedly been using Wi-Fi outside the premises fled after hearing the gunshot.

Police allege one of the suspects pointed a firearm at the shop owner while the other went behind the counter and stole more than R4,000 in cash, a CCTV monitor, a flash card machine, cigarette cartons and packets of sweets.

The stolen goods, excluding the cash, are estimated to be worth about R12,000.

Police further allege the shop owner was dragged into a bedroom while the suspects demanded more money before leaving the premises.

Officers who responded to the scene recovered a spent 9mm cartridge and one live 9mm round. A business robbery case was opened for investigation.

The following morning, at about 9am, police conducting patrols on the R56 Molteno Road stopped two men they considered suspicious and, after obtaining permission to search their luggage, allegedly recovered a 9mm pistol with its serial number filed off, 13 live 9mm rounds, a magazine, two cigarette cartons, a packet of Cadbury Eclairs sweets and R2,200 in cash.

Police said the men were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for possessing the items and were arrested.

Mashinini and Bakwena were remanded in custody and are expected to return to the Dordrecht Magistrate’s Court on 16 July 2026 for a formal bail application.

The District Commissioner, Major General Rudolph Adolph, commended the officers involved in the arrests.

“The District Commissioner Major General Rudolph Adolph commended his foot soldiers for their vigilance and determination in the mission to combat crime in the district.”