The hostage taker at a hair salon in Vanderbijlpark was shot dead by police early on Saturday morning.
A single shot was fired, bringing to an end an eight-hour hostage drama around 2.10am.
”It’s over, he is no longer,” said police spokesperson Captain William Mcera.
Both hostages were safe, he said.
Merle’s Hair Boutique looked a mess as police officers quickly placed a white sheet across the front door, blocking the view to the black and white interior.
A crowd had gathered outside the salon behind police lines as the dramatic hostage drama drew to a close.
Lydia Jacobs ‒- the last hostage — was the last person to see the man alive.
She was too shaken to speak to the media.
The drama started at 4.15pm when the man — dressed in women’s clothing — produced a firearm and took the owner of the salon in Attie Fourie Street, Merle Scheepers, and six other people hostage.
Sporting big sunglasses, he demanded R50 000 and a car. He subsequently released Scheepers and four other hostages at 11.15pm on Friday, retaining two.
Police task-force members and hostage negotiators earlier descended on the cordoned-off area.
Said Scheepers’ husband, George: ”He asked for the keys to the safe. I think it’s an inside job.”
Merle Scheepers recognised her captor as a robber who had held her at gunpoint in the salon and demanded money, jewellery and cellphones on May 24, he said.
Two women on the scene recognised the man as one in pictures police circulated after the previous robbery.
”The police showed us photos of him [then] and today he was walking through the corridor dressed in women’s clothing with big sunglasses on,” said a woman who refused to be named.
She said the man was ”trying to walk like a woman”.
A woman who answered the phone in the salon said she was ”very scared.
”He’s holding a gun to us.”
The woman said she was answering the phone to speak to the police. – Sapa