Four security guards were assaulted and shot in the neck during a robbery at a City Power power plant Wednesday night.
The security guards were employed by Mafoko Security Patrols and were stationed working the night shift at a substation in Johannesburg.
“We understand that between 23:00 and 24:00 the guards were confronted by three individuals who jumped over the substation gate while load shedding was applied,” said City Power spokesman Isaac Mangena. “One of the guards managed to escape during the incident, but the other three were detained with firearms and assaulted before they were robbed of their cell phones and cash. One of the guards was shot from close range in the neck and is in a critical condition in the hospital. “
Mangena also said that the suspects were later caught by two City Power workers who came back after load-shedding was switched.
“The suspects fled the scene when they saw the vehicle approaching,” he said.
The City Power CEO Lerato Setshedi is making plans to address security measures in place to prevent the same incident occurring in the future. He expressed his deepest condolences to the family members of the injured and hoped for a speedy recovery.