Eskom guards held hostage as armed gang overpowers private security
The suspects were reportedly shooting randomly at the armed reaction team, using the hand radio to threaten the guards with murder if police arrived on the scene.
Eskom guards employed to look after Bynes substation in Papierbas Avenue, Cullinan were held hostage on October 10 after a group of armed suspects entered the substation.
The incident at the substation in the east of Pretoria happened at 22:00.
The utility’s Gauteng spokesperson Amanda Qithi told Rekord according to the information at hand, a group of about 30 suspects entered the substation through the high voltage yard from the western direction.
“They broke the padlock and kicked the gate inside the yard while firing warning shots.”
Qithi said one Eskom employee was conducting patrol operations of the substation area, while the other observed what was unfolding from the guardhouse.
She said the guard at the guardhouse managed to immediately press the panic button and alerted the control room to send backup through the radio.
“Rhinoforce armed reaction responded, but they were overpowered by the suspects as they were shooting randomly at them. They left the site and went to the police station to request backup.”
Qithi said while the reaction team was waiting for backup, the suspects continued making threats.
“The suspects continued making threats using the hand radio saying they would kill the officers if the police came.”
According to Qithi, the police did not immediately attend to the scene at the substation, as they requested other police vehicles for backup.
She said police vehicles from different departments eventually arrived after the reaction team called for backup, however, they did not find the suspects on site.
“According to the officers, the suspects were looking for batteries, but they left without them.”
Qithi said the suspects fled with only four cellphones, a hand radio and the officers’ bags containing their wallets.
She said no arrests have been made, while the employees suffered minor injuries to their hands after they were pushed on the ground.
Police have yet to comment on the matter.
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