Chaos erupted in Middelburg after a protest by municipal workers ended in bloodshed when several people were shot on Wednesday, allegedly by a security guard. Cellphone footage of the shooting has surfaced, showing the horrific incident wherein two people were killed. A suspect has since been arrested and is expected to appear in court today.

After the shooting, PPP Protection and Security told the Middelburg Observer that armed guards were attacked by scores of striking employees who broke down the gate and stormed the Steve Tshwete municipal buildings to get to the acting municipal manager who was still inside.

Instead, the confrontation captured on video, shows the lone victims of the shooting confronting the guards. According to the footage, the heavily armed guards are clearly not outnumbered.

There is also no sign of a major shootout as the company alleges.

The video shows the four victims being shot by a lone gunman with a semi-automatic rifle.  After shooting three people, he fires off a last shot towards a fleeing employee.

The incident happened after striking employees allegedly broke down the main entrance gate, after which the victims can be seen, engaging with security forces.

There’s some pushing and shoving between employees and the guards before shots are fired.

Contradicting versions

PPP Protection and Security claims that security officers were fired at first at the back of the municipal buildings, after which police were called.

The company alleges that three female police officers identified the shooter but returned his weapon to him after ordering the employee to leave the civic centre.

According to guards, the armed employee simply moved from the back of the municipality to the front. The company says the armed employee was one of the four victims wounded.

In the background of the video no other municipal employees can be seen in the street. Hundreds of workers gathered there after the shooting, blocking Wanderers Avenue.

Tensions exploded with employees kicking a paramedic, and slashing tires of police vans. A truck was also set alight.

The video does not show the events preceding the shootings, or the aftermath. A different video, however, shows armed guards fleeing the municipality in two minibuses.

Acting Municipal Manager, Thokozile Zulu, who employees blame for the shootings, had to be escorted from the municipal buildings, after workers broke down gates upon learning of her presence inside.

The municipality has meanwhile denounced the violence in a press release yesterday. A media briefing is planned for today.

Employees say that their workplace had been militarized against them and have vowed to continue with the strike until their demands are met, one being that armed security guards should not be allowed on the premises. They also demand that their suspended colleagues be reinstated and better salaries.

One arrested, deceased identified

Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, has since confirmed that a 41-year-old man has been arrested and is expected to appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court today facing two charges of murder and two of attempted murder.

Mohlala says a cache of weapons, including shotguns and assault rifles as well as large amounts of ammunition, were confiscated yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Tshepo Maseko and Harris Sithole. They worked at the municipality’s electrical and solid waste departments.

Illegal protest cripples Middelburg

Middelburg has been marred by illegal protest action by municipal employees since last year. One of their initial demands was the resignation of then municipal manager, Advocate Bheki Khenisa.

During the previous strike action, there were several incidents of sabotage and intimidation, with contractors having to be escorted by security companies after their vehicle’s windows were smashed, and tyres slashed.

Municipal vehicles were also set alight.

The most recent protest action, currently in its third week, saw the municipality issue a warning that those who do not return to work, will be dismissed. Disciplinary action has been instigated against 39 employees while 12 are already suspended.

On Sunday, Middelburg mayor, Mhlonishwa Masilela’s elderly mother’s house in Mhluzi was targeted with tyres being burned in front of her property. Maslilela claims that six municipal workers have been identified as being part of the group responsible, and that their arrests are imminent.