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Horrific Attack on Security Guards in Cape Town Raises Concerns Over Safety During Municipal Services

Published November 24, 2024
2 months ago

An alarming attack in Marcus Garvey, Philippi East, Cape Town, has brought to light the extreme dangers faced by municipal workers and their security details. This Thursday morning, as the city awoke, a grisly scene unfolded when four security guards, tasked with escorting garbage collectors, were ambushed, shot, and robbed. The attack not only left one guard in a critical condition due to multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen, but also forced the City of Cape Town to suspend solid waste services in multiple neighborhoods, including Philippi East, Samora Machel, Browns Farm, Unathi, and Bester in Crossroads.





Grant Twigg, the mayco member for urban waste management, noted that this drastic measure was taken as the safety of city workers could not be guaranteed under current conditions. For years, these areas have necessitated the presence of security escorts for municipal workers due to ongoing threats from criminals and demands from gangs for protection money to allow safe operation of city services.


This particular incident occurred around 9:00 AM on Vietnam Drive. The attackers, having tailed the security team, forcefully extracted the guards from their vehicles and subjected them and approximately ten other bystanders to a terrifying ordeal. Witnesses recount lying face down on the ground, hands on their heads, as the attackers demanded weapons from the security guards before shooting them and escaping with their guns into an adjacent informal settlement.


The rapid escape and the familiarity of the suspects with the community suggest a chilling endemic issue of organized crime in these neighborhoods. Despite the notoriety of the attackers within the community, the fear of retaliation keeps many from speaking to law enforcement, further complicating efforts to address such critical security breaches.


South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed that Philippi East SAPS has launched an investigation and opened four counts of attempted murder following the incident. However, no arrests have been made. The condition of the injured, especially the guard in critical condition, remains a pressing concern for the community and authorities alike.


This incident starkly highlights the perilous conditions under which many city workers operate, particularly in areas plagued by high crime rates and gang activity. It underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and possibly more robust community policing efforts to protect those who serve the public day in and day out.


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