By Everson Luhanga
- Police run out of bullets during a shootout with cable thieves at Fordsburg Substation in Johannesburg.
- City Power is facing more attacks as criminals target electricity infrastructure across the city.
Police had to retreat and get more bullets after cable thieves shot at them near Fordsburg Substation in Johannesburg on Monday.
The battle started when City Power security guards caught thieves cutting copper cables with a hacksaw in underground tunnels. The criminals then hid in an empty building nearby.
When police arrived at the scene, the criminals started shooting at them. The police shot back but had to retreat to their station to get more ammunition and guns. When they returned at 1:30 am, the thieves had escaped.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said they were angry about this attack on their property.
“Upon investigation, we discovered suspects using a hacksaw and saw the telltale glimmer of flashlights in the dark underground passages.”
“A tactical team was deployed, but due to the high risk of ambush, security personnel had to first call for police backup,” he said.
This was not the only attack on City Power. In Midrand, eight men with guns tried to steal cables from Klipfontein Substation earlier this month. They shot at security guards before running away into the bush.
In Alexandra, three men with guns attacked two female security guards at the Security and Dispatch Centre on 7 February. They stole the guards’ belongings. One guard had an asthma attack and had to go to Masakhane Clinic. Sandringham police are investigating.
Pictured above: The suspects being arrested in Midrand.
Image source: Supplied by City Power
