Joburg vows to clamp down on 'economic sabotage' amid spate of deadly attacks on staff, infrastructure
Updated | By Nokukhanya N Mntambo
The City of Johannesburg has raised the alarm about what it claims are well-orchestrated attacks on critical infrastructure and staff.
This follows three incidents last week.
On Thursday, two City Power security personnel were gunned down and robbed of their firearms in Newtown.
The pair were carrying burnt copper cables to a nearby depot from the scene of the underground fire in the CBD.
Barely 24 hours later, two other City Power security personnel exchanged gun fire with assailants in Kya Sand, north of Johannesburg.
One of the security guards was rushed to hospital and remains in ICU after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head.
Earlier in the same week, security guards stationed at Cydna Substation, north of Johannesburg, were also accosted by an armed gang with high-calibre rifles.
According to the city, they were both made to lie down on the floor as the gang ransacked the substation and stole several hundred kilograms of underground cabling, they ripped from the ground using unmarked 4x4 vehicles.
Mayor Mpho Phalatse says she's disheartened by the "economic sabotage” brought on by the attacks.
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In a bid to secure the city's infrastructure, Phalatse says resources will be pumped into fighting the increased criminal activity.
"I have instructed the head of the city’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services, commissioner Shadrack Sibiya to assemble a strong team, working together with law enforcement agencies including JMPD, to investigate the attacks and ensure that those that are responsible face the full might of the law.
"My office will also be coordinating and monitoring the efforts of stakeholders from the city and other spheres of government to ensure that this process moves with haste and precision, and that we exhaust all provisions of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act."
Phalatse has also called on provincial and national government to bolster their efforts.
"We cannot do this on our own and require inputs and resources from all spheres of government. I have therefore appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the National Prosecuting Authority and Gauteng Police Commissioner Elias Mawela to avail the highest level of resources to investigate and prosecute what is becoming a trend aimed at sabotaging Johannesburg’s already fragile infrastructure," says Phalatse.
"It is important that national and provincial role-players add their voices and resources to this fight to protect the city’s economic infrastructure and prevent what must be termed economic sabotage carried out by organised criminals.
"I will work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that these criminals are not left to run amok in the country’s economic capital. The deliberate destruction of economic infrastructure must be treated with the urgency and resources it deserves," Phalatse adds.
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