Cape Town – A security officer of a well-known company has been killed for his firearm while on duty.
Siyabulela Sipunzi, 44, who worked for Sniper Security Solutions, was sitting in his response vehicle when he was approached by a gunman on foot on Saturday morning in Lansdowne.
The gunman shot and killed Sipunzi, took his firearm and apparently fled in a Toyota Conquest.
Sipunzi, of Makhaza in Khayelitsha, was a father of two children.
He had been parking at his regular spot, carrying out surveillance and awaiting calls when he was killed.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut, says the motive for the murder was robbery: “At 9:50am on Saturday, a 44-year-old security officer was shot and killed and robbed of his firearm on the corner of Rokeby and Camberwell roads, Lansdowne, by an unknown suspect who is yet to be arrested.
“The circumstances are being investigated.”
Ridwaan Mathews, the Managing Director of Sniper Security Solutions, is appealing for witnesses to come forward to help bring the suspects to justice.
“All we know at this stage is that the motive was to take the firearm,” he says.
“We are appealing to residents to come forward if they have any information which will assist with the investigation."
“This was someone’s brother, husband and father."
“Security officers have a role like doctors, we are about saving lives."
“Siyabulela was based in the Crawford area and died in the area he protected."
“He was a family man and never missed a day of work."
“We have lost a true hero, a staff member like him is hard to replace."
“He always had a smile on his face and his gratitude showed in his work.”
Mathews says a source reveals the gunman was neatly dressed, wore a peak cap, shorts and T-shirt.
* Anyone with information can contact Lansdowne Police on 021 700 9000 or Sniper Security Solutions on 021 697 0573.