Two City Power security officers killed in Newtown
City Power has confirmed the deaths of two security guards during an ambush by an unknown number of assailants on Thursday evening.
The utility believes the attack could be linked to cable theft.
Spokesperson Isaac Mangena says the two guards were on patrol in Newtown when they were attacked.
“The security officers had just completed a task of escorting a City Power truck that was transporting tons and tons of their burnt copper cables from the inner city underground tunnels to the City Power yard at the head office in Booysens.
“The officers stopped at Carr Street near the double decker highway to inspect some of the (cable theft) hotspots, and especially the kiosk that is often burgled and used to gain entry into the underground tunnels where the theft of cables is happening.”
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Mangena says the two were shot and killed inside the vehicle.
“Armed suspects appeared on both sides of the driver and the passenger and they shot both the security guards, then pulled their lifeless bodies out of the vehicle and took one firearm from the crew.
“The police were called to the scene and they have taken over the investigation.”
Mangena says more than 10 spent cartridges were found on the scene.
