The South African Police Service in Limpopo has displayed commitment to combat criminal activities in all the districts across the province after one thousand, one hundred and sixty three suspects (1163) aged between 25 and 58 were apprehended during the ongoing operations that were conducted since Sunday 03 January 2021 until Sunday evening, 10 January 2020.
The suspects were arrested for various offences that range from murder, attempted murder, robberies, rape, sexual assault, assault GBH, assault common, common robbery, robbery with weapon other than firearm, sexual offences, burglary residential, burglary business, stock theft, theft of motor vehicle, arson, malicious damage to property, shoplifting, theft, drugs related crime, failure to confine to place of residence, driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to wear mask, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, illegal immigrants, public drinking and illegal dealing in liquor.
The operations comprised of various police components that included crime intelligence, public order policing (POPS), detectives, vehicle crime investigation unit, K9, traffic police and Limpopo Highway Patrol police (LHP).
On Sunday 3 January 2021, the Limpopo Highway Patrol (LHP) police were on routine patrol at Solomondale location in the Capricorn district when they received information about a suspect who was dealing and in possession of drugs. Police rushed to the house where the suspect aged 25 was identified and arrested. When searching the house, police discovered plastic bags of drugs which were concealed inside the ceiling. 14 Crystal meth drugs, 90 sachets of Nyaope drugs, 16 sachets of dagga, and 190 wrapped packets of dagga with estimated street value R25 000-00.
In Mopani district, Waterval police have on Friday, 8 January 2021 arrested a 58 year old businessman and his two accomplices aged between 26 and 35 for alleged murder of two men that took place at Waterval policing area in 2019 and 2020 respectively. On 2019-03-28, the deceased Elone Mashamba aged 57 was shot and killed by three unknown suspects at Mashamba post office while meeting his 58 year old brother who orchestrated for the murder.
The trio committed another murder on 15 September 2020 after the gunshots were reported along Elim to Giyani road in the evening. Afterwards, a lifeless body of an African male was found by a passerby next to the road at Bungeni Xitachi with gunshots wounds and a pistol next to him. The deceased was identified as Munyai Azwifarwi Justice aged 31 from Mashau Mukhoro village.
An intensive investigations were launched by Vhembe District detectives in collaboration with Waterval police and subsequently led to their arrest on Friday, 8 January 2021.
During these operations police managed to seize 4681 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes, 8 dangerous weapons, 1087 grams of dagga, dagga plants, 5 grams of Crystal Meth, 40 grams Cat, 83 grams of nyaope, 5 firearms, 26 knives, 182 987 ml liquor, 3 stolen/robbed vehicles recovered and 1422 summons were issued.
Other actions executed include 279 awareness campaigns, 2478 compliance inspections at liquor premises, 216 compliance inspections at second hand goods dealers, 266 crime prevention operations, 30 drug operations, 22 liquors control operations, 94 roadblocks, 3788 stop and search, 3612 VCP’s, 144 domestic violence incidents attended, protection orders served, 4 shebeens closed, 5067 Blue light patrols, 27 266 persons searched and 12535 vehicles searched.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has praised the sterling work by men and women in blue in ensuring that criminals are rooted out of the province. “The criminals should be aware that the police will stop at nothing when arresting them and making sure that they are taken to where they belong.” Concluded the General.
All suspects will appear before their local magistrate’s courts soon and other have already started appearing.
