The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended community members of Khujwana under Ritavi policing area outside Tzaneen for not taking the law into their own hands but instead handed the alleged robbers over to the police after they apprehended them soon after they allegedly committed a business robbery in the area on Sunday 26 December 2021.
The 30-year-old shop owner was reportedly busy serving the customers when three unknown men allegedly stormed into his shop, threatened him with a hammer and demanded money.
The suspects allegedly robbed the victim an amount of cash and cigarettes.
Afterwards, they attempted to flee the scene but community members chased them down and arrested two of the suspects. The third one managed to flee with the robbed items. The two suspects were then handed over to the Police.
“What happened at Khujwana is a proper manifestation of the concept of Community Policing where community members never fold their arms and allow suspects to get away with acts of criminality right under their watch. I thank these community members for apprehending these criminals and handing them alive to the police,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
“The swift response by the local police is also commendable. I therefore call on all our communities to work together with us to clean our streets of criminal elements”. Concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.
The suspects, aged 28 and 35 will appear in Ritavi magistrate court soon, facing a charge of robbery.
The hunt for the third suspect is continuing and anyone with information may contact the nearest police, MySAPS App or Crime Stop number 08600 10111.
