The City of Tshwane would like to denounce in the strongest terms the violence and thuggery directed at its security guards and infrastructure following a break-in at the inlet works of Temba Wastewater Treatment Plant, yesterday, 20 October 2024.
At around 19:45, four on-duty private security guards were accosted by about ten criminals at gunpoint. The suspects gained access through the fence at the back of the inlet works and shot the locked security door.
The security guards were overpowered, handcuffed and robbed of their firearms and phones, while the other suspects cut power cables at the inlet works.
An alarm was raised by one guard at 03:45 after he had managed to escape, since his handcuffs were used by the suspects to lock the main entrance gate. While this aggression is meted out on security personnel, it translates to delays in carrying out the municipality’s maintenance responsibilities.
Subsequently, the treatment of sewage in the catchment cannot be done due to this vandalism, which may result in pollution to the immediate environment that can cause a health hazard.
A case docket (CAS 101/2024) has been opened with the South African Police Service at Temba Police Station.
Communities are urged to be the eyes and ears of the City to assist in identifying the suspects, who could be from the same community to which the City is trying to provide services. The City further expresses its disgust regarding the vandalism and theft of the municipality’s infrastructure.