KEY POINTS
- A man was shot and killed at Westgate Mall, Cape Town, after a confrontation with a CIT security guard over ATM access.
- The victim allegedly refused to step away and later drew a knife, prompting the guard to fire a fatal shot.
- The shooting occurred amid rising CIT-related violence in South Africa, with a deadly CIT heist taking place in Durban just a day prior.
A man was shot and killed on Wednesday afternoon following a heated confrontation with a cash-in-transit, CIT, security guard at an ATM in Westgate Mall, Mitchells Plain, Cape Town.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed to newsmen that Lentegeur police detectives are investigating the shooting incident, which occurred around 3 PM as security personnel were replenishing the ATM with cash.
When police arrived at the scene, they found the victim—a man yet to be identified—lying in front of the bank with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
“The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries while en route,” said Van Wyk.
Fatal Dispute Over ATM Access
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the confrontation began when the CIT security team asked the man to step away from the ATM area while they conducted their operation.
“Allegedly, there was an argument between the deceased and a 32-year-old security guard while the CIT officers were loading money into the ATM,” Van Wyk stated.
However, when the man refused to comply, tensions escalated. According to reports, the victim allegedly drew a knife, prompting the security guard to fire a single shot, fatally wounding him.
Authorities have since confiscated a Vektor CP1 firearm and ammunition as part of the investigation.
“The circumstances surrounding the argument and the shooting incident are still under investigation. No arrests have been made at this time,” Van Wyk added.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over CIT-related violence in the country. Just a day earlier, a CIT heist on the N2 freeway near Durban turned deadly, leaving one woman dead and several others injured.
The armed robbers ambushed a cash van during peak-hour morning traffic, forcing it off the road before blowing it up and making off with an undisclosed sum of money.
With crime rates around CIT operations surging, security experts are calling for stricter safety measures and improved law enforcement coordination to prevent further bloodshed.
Authorities are urging witnesses to come forward with any information regarding the Westgate Mall shooting as the investigation continues.
