Security guard killed, another left seriously injured, following a shooting incident in Site B, Khayelitsha.

A security guard was killed and another left seriously injured, following a shooting incident in Site B, Khayelitsha, on Wednesday.

It is understood the security guards were escorting City of Cape Town Water and Sanitation inspectors who were assigned to ensure ablution facilities were met, when shots were fired at their vehicle.

‘’The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Wednesday, at about 11:10 in Bathembu Street, Site B, Khayelitsha where a 50-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded and a 32-year-old male shot and wounded are under investigation. Khayelitsha police received a complaint of a shooting and upon arrival on the scene the victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment in a private vehicle. The 50 year old victim was declared deceased at the hospital while the 32 year old victim received medical treatment,’’ said Sergeant Wesley Twigg.

Twigg said the motive for the attack is unknown and that no arrests has been made.

‘’Murder and attempted murder cases were registered for investigation. Anyone with any information about this incident is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111,’’ added Sergeant Wesley Twigg.

Mayco member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien has condemned the incident.

‘’The City of Cape Town's Water and Sanitation Directorate is deeply saddened by the senseless, violent attack on teams assigned to work in informal settlements, while they were at work performing their duties in Site B, Khayelitsha.

Badroodien said that despite mitigation measures being put in place, City staff are still targeted.

‘’Due to the sharp increase in staff being targeted while responding to service delivery needs, measures have been put in place to assign security escorts for teams conducting inspections, attending to burst pipes, clearing sewer overflows, providing oversight of cleaning of toilets and teams repairing taps for clean access to water in all hotspot areas such as informal settlements.’’

‘’We have committed resources and adjusted operations to mitigate risks to staff however; we remain relentless about seeking solutions with input from communities where violence is perpetuated. The City's only objective is to deliver essential services for clean water and dignified sanitation to all of our communities, particularly the most vulnerable living in informal settlements. It's unacceptable that it has become a norm for officials at the front line of service delivery to have life-threatening experiences while at work,’’ added said Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

 

Done By: Mitchum George