The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba and members of his management team are elated by the ultimate arrests and subsequent charging of two suspects allegedly involved in killing of SAMWU members in Thohoyandou during January 2019.
A 50-year-old Tshimagadzo Timson Musetsho was shot while parking his motor vehicle in the garage at Makwarela location, Thohoyandou on 24 January 2019, at about 20:30. He later succumbed to the injuries in hospital. Six days later, Ronald Mani also aged 50 at the time, was shot dead at Singo bottle store in Itsani on 30 January 2019 at about 19:40.
Following these killings, the Provincial Commissioner appointed a high level team of investigators led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection Major General Samuel Manala to probe both incidents.
Both suspects were administratively charged after lengthy but sterling investigations that were conducted by the team.
The suspects, aged 26 and 33, whom are said to be brothers from Makwarela location, were initially arrested by the Tzaneen Tracking Team at Rwanda village under Letsitele policing area outside Tzaneen for possession of firearms and ammunition on Friday 19 March 2021 at about 15:00.
The team that was following the suspects’ tracks, immediately took control of their custody and commenced with the process of linking them to the other crimes under investigation.
After the conclusion of the investigations that linked both suspects to the two murders of Thohoyandou, they were also found to be positively linked with the following other crimes:
Murder and robbery at FNB in Thohoyandou in 2018.
Two counts of murder at Mandala village, Siloam in 2019.
Robbery and attempted murder at Game, Thohoyandou in 2020.
House robbery at Muledane location, Thohoyandou in 2020.
Robbery and kidnapping at Mukula, Thohoyandou in 2020.
Robbery at Sibasa in 2020.
Theft of motor vehicle at Makwarela, Thohoyandou in 2020.
Robbery and kidnapping at Tshilivhani, Thohoyandou in 2020.
Robbery and kidnapping at Phiphidi, Thohoyandou in 2020.
Murder at Phiphidi plantation, Thohoyandou in Nov. 2020.
Intimidation at Sibasa Advark Shop, Thohoyandou in Jan. 2021.
Robbery and attempted murder in Giyani in March 2021.
2x Possession of illegal firearms and ammunition at Rwanda village in Letsitele in March 2021.
“We commend all members who were involved in these investigations for their relentless pursuit of any information provided and their determination in cracking these horrendous crimes. We also thank community members for continuously assisting the police in the fight against crime,” said General Ledwaba.
“These arrests will undoubtedly put to a halt, the reign of terror allegedly perpetuated by these heartless suspects and will go a long way in ridding the affected Districts of criminality.” Concluded General Ledwaba.
The suspects will appear in Thohoyandou magistrate court on Tuesday 6 April 2021.
