A man was killed and another injured when men believed to be cable thieves opened fire on members of the Blyvoor community, near Carletonville, on the West Rand.
The community members had gathered on the road opposite an electricity supply substation at about 2.30pm yesterday when they were shot at.
Sikeme Lethooana, a Blyvoor resident, said the incident happened shortly after a power cut hit the mining town. Suspecting that power cable was once again being stolen at the substation a whistle was blown to alert residents.
As the crowd formed on the road opposite the substation shots were fired.
"We didn't even see [the gunmen], they were lying in the veld," said Lethooana.
One man was shot in the head, another in the shoulder. Yesterday afternoon residents learned that the man with the head wound had died in hospital.
Residents said they are fed up with illegal miners and metal scavengers preying on their community.
"It is becoming like Beirut here; every night we hear gunshots," said Lethooana.
This was not the only killing in Blyvoor. Police discovered the body of a man in a veld yesterday.
It is suspected that he was killed in a dispute between two rival factions of Basotho illegal miners. The police found spent R4 and R5 ammunition and gold ore next to the body.
Blyvoor mine is in liquidation.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Khensani Magoai said there was a confrontation between two groups at the Blyvoor gold plant on Monday.
Yesterday the body of a 23-year-old was discovered with gunshot and stab wounds.
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