Dark week for security officers in the Govan Mbeki municipal area

Two security officers faced the harsh reality of their jobs last week when in two unrelated incidents, one was murdered and the other was arrested for allegedly killing a suspect.

Cable thieves slit officer’s throat
A 46-year-old security officer was found dead with his throat slit at the main sewerage plant in Leandra on Friday morning, November 25.

The officer was brutally killed when he responded to a theft in progress at a business site at the sewage plant. An electric cable was stolen.

According to the information at police disposal, the incident was reported to the security company who dispatched the officer
to the scene.

The police were also alerted about the crime in progress and went to the premises.

Upon their arrival at the scene, the police were met with the gruesome murder scene.

Emergency medical personnel were also summoned and the security guard was certified dead on the scene.

The police also discovered cartridges on the scene. Preliminary investigation suggests that a personal firearm belonging to the victim was also stolen as well during the incident.

An electric cable was also stolen.

The police are investigating a case of murder with an additional charge of theft of the electric cable. No one has yet been arrested.

The Mpumalanga police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, condemned the attack on any of the law enforcement agencies.

“We will use all available resources to hunt down and ensure that those who are involved in the security officer’s murder feel the might of the law,” warned the General.

The police urged anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP.

All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

Officer allegedly shoots and kills suspect

In an unrelated incident that happened in Secunda, a 20-year-old man appeared in the Secunda Magistrate’s Court on Friday, November 25, on a charge of murder.

The court was satisfied that he is not a flight risk and therefore granted him bail of R4 000.

In a media statement released by provincial communications, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, police received information regarding a shooting incident at Nelson Mandela Drive at about 08:00 on Wednesday, November 23.

The young man, who is a security officer at a local security company, allegedly shot a man who later died in hospital.

When police arrived at the scene they found the wounded man in an ambulance.

He had sustained gunshot wounds.

Mdhluli said security officer allegedly opened direct fire at the victim. The victim is yet to be identified.

Circumstances surrounding the shooting and what led to the events that transpired are under investigation.

However, provincial police can confirm that the security official was arrested by the police and is facing murder
charges.

The alleged firearm used in the shooting has also been confiscated for further investigation.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the firearm used in the incident belongs to the security company where the security official is employed.

The victim was treated and taken to a hospital by ER24, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The security officer also sustained injuries and were treated at a local hospital. It is still unclear how he was injured or what is the extent of his injuries.

EFF members were stationed at a nearby by-election voting station at a local school, when the incident happened.

They made their presence known at the crime scene and were angered that the security officer was not immediately arrested at the scene.

They also shouted that police not arresting the security guard on the scene stems from “white privilege”.

The matter has now been postponed to March 1, 2023, for further investigation.