The Tshwane metro has strongly condemned the violent criminal activities targeting its security personnel and infrastructure following a brazen break-in at the Temba Waste Water Treatment Plant over the weekend.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo says that around 19:45 on Sunday, four private security guards on duty at the plant were ambushed by a group of approximately 10 armed criminals.

Mashigo explains the assailants gained access by breaching the facility’s perimeter fence and shooting open the locked security door.

“Once inside, they overpowered the guards, restraining them with handcuffs and stealing their firearms and mobile phones. The intruders also vandalised critical infrastructure by cutting power at the Inlet Works,” adds Mashigo.

This act of vandalism has rendered the sewage treatment process at the facility inoperative, posing a risk of pollution to the surrounding environment and potentially creating a health hazard for nearby communities.

“The severity of the situation became evident when one of the guards managed to escape and raise the alarm. His handcuffs had been used by the assailants to secure the main entrance.”

The metro is urging residents to assist in identifying the suspects, who may belong to the same neighbourhood the municipality serves.

“We encourage residents to be the eyes and ears of the city,” Mashigo urges.