The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has praised the men and women in blue for the sterling work that was executed following the apprehension of eight suspects for various offences in Saselamani policing area on Friday morning, 29 April 2022.
The suspects aged between 18 and 38 were arrested during a joint operation that was conducted by Saselamani Detectives, Vhembe Task Team, Tactical Response Team (TRT) and Crime Intelligence Unit.
Their imminent arrest come after a 37-year-old woman, believed to be a Mashonisa, was brutally killed at Salema village in Saselamani policing precinct on Monday 11 April 2022 at about 22:10.
The Police received a complaint about a vigilante incident at the said village in which a mob intended to burn the house of a 37-year-old woman believed to be a money lender (Loan Shark or Mashonisa).
The Police rushed to the scene and discovered that the mob had tied the victim to her motor vehicle and dragged her to the bushes. The mob then started to throw stones at the Police while they were attempting to search for the victim.
The crowd was dispersed and Police managed to rescue the victim who was tied and dragged with a motor vehicle between Salema and Xikundu villages.
Afterwards, the mob torched the victim’s house and damaged a Toyota motor vehicle, both valued at R200 000-00. The victim was later transported to Malamulele Hospital but she subsequently succumbed to her injuries upon arrival.
The victim was identified as Basani Portia Shuma from Salema village. She was reportedly accused by the mob of being responsible for the disappearance of a local man who allegedly went missing two weeks ago prior to the incident.
“I caution community members who perpetuate acts of vigilantism that the Police will be relentless in hunting them down and bringing them to book. Nobody is above the law and every offence has its own punishmentâ concluded the General.
The suspects are expected to appear before Saselamani Magistrate court soon facing charges of murder, public violence, arson and malicious damage to property cases.
Police investigations are continuing.
