Security guard arrested for opening fire on protester amid Alex power cut protests

22 September 2021 - 12:50
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
A man was killed during power cut protests in Alexandra.
A man was killed during power cut protests in Alexandra.
Image: City Power

Gauteng police on Wednesday confirmed a man believed to have been part of the protest action against City Power’s disconnection of illegal power connections in Alexandra was shot dead.

The incident happened on Tuesday in the Riverpark area, where the Johannesburg metro police department was providing support to the City Power team.

“It is alleged a security guard from Alex Mall fired a shot towards the protesters,” said police spokesperson Brig Brenda Muridili.

“It was then discovered that a protester, aged 27, was hit. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead on arrival,” Muridili said.

Police have opened a murder case against the security guard who allegedly fired the deadly shot.

He has been taken into custody and his gun seized for ballistic testing.

The 43-year-old is set to appear in the Alexandra magistrate's court soon.

Earlier, City Power said protests started after the cut-off operations, with residents burning tyres along London Road between 13th Avenue and Alex Mall.

A confrontation ensued between mall security and some protesters who wanted to force their way into the mall, said the entity’s spokesperson, Isaac Mangena.

“We can confirm this incident happened long after City Power and its contractors left the area.”

TimesLIVE


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now