The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has strongly condemned the violence that erupted in Saselamani on the night of Sunday 28 February 2021, in which the local community attempted to attack the police station and in the process, slightly damaged a police vehicle.
The violent protests were apparently sparked by the murder of a 16-year-old Wisani Maluleke, who was shot and killed by unknown suspect on Wednesday 24 February 2021, next to the Maphophe soccer field in Saselamani.
The angry mob started barricading the Punda Maria public road by burning tyres. They then turned their angers towards the local police, blaming them of doing nothing to solve the case and in the process, also accusing a certain local man of being responsible for the murder.
The local police were reinforced by members of Public Order Police and they managed to repel the crowd. A police vehicle was slightly damaged when a petrol bomb was thrown at the police.
When the crowd finally dispersed, the body of a 26-year-old man was found in the vicinity lying next to the road with a bullet wound. It is not clear at this stage who fired the shot but this will be determined by the unfolding investigations.
The police have opened cases of inquest, malicious damage to property and public violence. The Inquest investigation has been referred to the Independent Police Investigations Directorate (IPID) for further handling.
One suspect aged about 40 has been arrested on charges of malicious damage to property and public violence. More arrests are expected.
