The men who robbed Mangwanani Spa in Ballito yesterday stole the firearms and a cellphone from both the armed reaction officer they had killed and the one they had critically injured.

The weapons have not been recovered.

Enforce Security Director Anthony Feuilherade said he was disturbed by the callousness of the men responsible.

“We are so disgusted at the actions of those who shot him – that they were actually still able to steal from him after they had killed him,” he said.

Feuilherade said he believes his employee, Moses Makhoba, was ambushed at the entrance to his client’s premises when he responded to the alarm activation just after 6am.

“At this stage it looks as though the suspects were waiting for him; as if they had had a spotter on the road looking out for him.

“For, as soon as he arrived on site, they opened fire on him and his vehicle, and although he did return fire, he was killed while still in the car.”

A reaction officer from another security company, IPSS, was also shot during the exchange of fire after hearing the gunshots and coming to assist.

He is currently in a critical condition in hospital.

“As soon as I was informed of the incident I left from Mount Edgecombe, but when I got to the Toll Plaza I noticed a white Mercedes with bullet holes abandoned there.

“One of the suspects had collapsed on the verge outside the car as he had been shot in the upper arm, neck, and side – obviously during the gunfire exchange.

“He was immediately arrested by the SAPS.

“His accomplices had, however, fled into the sugar cane fields,” said Feuilherade.

No further arrests have been made.

The robbers had stolen seven computers, which were recovered in the Mercedes, along with crowbars and bolt cutters.

Feuilherade said they believed that another vehicle, a Golf GTI, was also involved.

“We are really heartbroken at the death of Moses.

“He was a fantastic worker who had been with us for about four and a half years; in fact, we had actually head-hunted him.

Moses was such a wonderful man and everybody liked him.

“There are no words to explain just how devastated we are.

On a small positive note, Feuilherade said he was amazed at just how many local people and businesses had already pledged their support for Makhoba’s wife and her two step-children.

His death will be a severe blow to his two children after losing their mother 18 months ago.

Makhoba recently remarried.

“We have obviously not finalised all the details yet, but everyone, including Enforce – will be working together to make some kind of financial contribution to them, including possibly an education policy for the children.

Everyone is just so shocked and saddened at the events of yesterday morning, and the death of such a good man and worker.”

Feuilherade said it was critical that security companies worked together to prevent the death of any more of tier officers.

“These types of incidents are happening far too often and we cannot continue losing good men and women like this.

“In the current criminal climate we are living in I cannot emphasise enough just how crucial it is for security companies to work together instead of using crime and tragic incidents like today’s for their own glory and publicity.

“It is about time that we all started looking out for one another and jointly working to not only rid the streets of these criminals but preserve the lives of those who risk them daily in this fight.

Self-promotion will not win this; only a genuine effort to work together. “