Two alleged robbers and a security guard were wounded in a shootout at Centurion Mall at around 18:15 on Thursday, Netwerk24 reported.

They were reportedly wounded when they allegedly attempted to rob a store in the mall and a shootout ensued. One security guard was reportedly taken to hospital while the alleged robbers were treated on the scene.

Mall spokesperson Marli Strauss confirmed the incident to Centurion Record. 

“Two of the suspects were injured when the security guard returned fire,” Strauss reportedly said.

“The security guard was also injured and transported to hospital.”

The SAPS said in a statement: “Four suspects entered the Centurion Mall and attempted to rob one of the stores. The security was alerted to the situation and responded; the suspects saw them approach and fired at the security officer who returned fire hitting two of the suspects. 

“One suspect was hit in the leg and the second one was hit in the upper body.     

“The suspect that was hit in the leg fled the scene and attempted to hijack a vehicle outside the mall; however, he was unsuccessful and was apprehended. 

“The first suspect who was hit in the upper body was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.                 

“In total, two suspects were arrested and one passed away. 

“Two unlicensed firearms were recovered on the scene together with the money taken from the store.                         

“The security officer who was involved in the shooting was unfortunately also hit and is in a stable condition in a private hospital.     

“We are still looking for two suspects that managed to escape and are following up all leads. The arrested suspect will face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms  attempted murder and armed robbery.                 

“Our thoughts and prayers go out the the security officer and we wish to convey our appreciation for his willingness to place himself in harms way to ensure that these suspects were arrested,” the statement by the Lyttelton SAPS read.                    

In the past, robbers have targeted the mall. In January this year and in July last year, the Incredible Connection store at the mall was robbed, Centurion Record reported. 

In October 2014, six people were arrested following a robbery and shootout at Centurion Mall, Sapa reported at the time. 

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The Freedom Front Plus has complained about comments by an Economic Freedom Fighters MP that Afrikaans is “disturbing”, calling the comments a concerted attack on the language.

FF Plus MP Wouter Wessels was responding to a debate on the use of Afrikaans in Parliament after it was raised by EFF MP Josephine Mokwele last week.

The incident took place during the public works department budget vote debate on Wednesday.

Mokwele had interrupted FF Plus MP Philippus van Staden, who was delivering a speech in Afrikaans, to demand that his speech be translated.

“This is a very undisturbing (sic) language. I want to listen to a proper language, but I can’t get my translation,” Mokwele said.

The House chairperson Jane Manganye said she would refer the matter to the National Assembly’s language services.

Democratic Alliance chief whip John Steenhuisen then rose on a point of order.

‘Exactly, I said that’

He concurred with Mokwele that translations should be available, but added that all 11 official languages should be treated equally.

“It is a disgrace that they (translations) are not available, if that is the case. But what you can’t do is refer to somebody’s language as disturbing or whatever it was referred to,” Steenhuisen said. 

“There are 11 official languages in this country. They all have equal status and they must all be respected in this House,” he said.

When the House chairperson asked if she had indeed uttered those words, she responded: “Exactly, I said that.”

The House chair Manganye then asked Mokwele to retract the statement, to which she responded: “I’m not respecting Afrikaans. It is my democratic right… no one will force me to respect Afrikaans.

“As much as he cannot speak my language. I cannot speak or respect his language,” Mokwele added.

‘Unconstitutional and unbecoming’

Wessels told News24 on Thursday that he agreed that there should be translation services available and called for all languages to be respected.

“We agree that there should be translations services, but we should distinguish between a political play, simply trying to score political points, and fighting against Afrikaans, which is an official language, just for the sake of it,” he said.

Wessels said Mokwele was in breach of the Constitution, which all MPs had sworn to uphold.

“Honourable Mokwele saying she does not respect Afrikaans and that Afrikaans is a disturbing language is unconstitutional and unbecoming of a member of Parliament,” he said.

The FF Plus said it wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly about the matter and was awaiting a response.

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