A security guard was electrocuted when he came into contact with a live wire, in the Mkhankwa Village informal settlement near Ergo, on Friday evening, last week.
The 33-year-old man was killed while in pursuit of a group of men, who had earlier attempted to steal electric cables.
According to information received from Brakpan police, the guard and five others were posted to the informal settlement to guard the cables, which were being installed in the area.
At about 11.30pm, the guards were confronted by four men, one of whom was armed with a gun, while the other men were each brandishing a knife.
The guards were searched and robbed of their cellphones and other belongings.
They were then forced into a trench, which had been excavated for the cable installation – and were covered with blankets.
The robber armed with a gun threatened to shoot the guards if they didn’t co-operate; and told them they were there to steal the cables.
One of the guards informed the robbers that the cables were made from aluminium and not copper, then the armed men suddenly took off.
The guards climbed out of the trench and gave chase on foot.
During the search for the men, the guards heard a colleague cry out in pain and rushed to him.
They found the victim on the ground and saw sparks emitting from a live wire.
The guards, one of whom also suffered an electrical shock, managed to separate the victim from the wire.
They discovered he was unresponsive and ran to a nearby petrol station to seek help.
Police and an ambulance were called, but paramedics declared the man dead on the scene.
A case of robbery with firearm and an inquest docket, have been opened.
