Guards shot at metro police chief's home

2012-09-13 14:08

Durban - Two security guards have been shot and wounded at the home of Durban's metro police chief, in Newlands, police said on Thursday.

"Four armed men entered metro police head Eugene Nzama's residence and held two of his security guards, who were on duty, at gunpoint on Wednesday at about 18:00," said Colonel Vincent Mdunge.

Mdunge said the robbers disarmed the security guards and shot them before fleeing. One of the guards was in a critical condition in hospital. The other's condition was stable.

Nzama and his family were not at home at the time of the shooting.

"It is unclear what the motive for the shooting was, but it will be established by our investigations," Mdunge said.

Police were investigating a case of armed robbery and attempted murder.

In recent months, the Durban metro police have staged protests demanding that Nzama be removed from his position, because they were not happy with his management style.

He was put on special leave in July and disaster management head Vincent Ngubane replaced him.

Nzama approached the Durban Labour Court to challenge his special leave and resumed his duties before his leave ended.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu has condemned the attack on Nzama's home.

"Crime in any form is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. I would like to urge the community to work with the police to find these criminals and to fight against crime," said Mchunu.

In May, taxi drivers in Durban went on strike, complaining that the metro police were unfairly targeting them.

In July, the Daily News reported that the National Intelligence Agency had written to former city manager, Mike Sutcliffe, and the SAPS Crime Intelligence Unit last year, alerting them to a security threat against Nzama and recommending that it be taken seriously.

The Mercury newspaper reported in May that Nzama had bodyguards at his side for the past year, after apparently receiving death threats from members of the taxi industry.

eThewkini metro police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Eugene Msomi said the guards at Nzama's house had been provided by the city.

- SAPA