Violent criminals among 1377 suspects arrested, Limpopo

South African Police Service

Violent criminals among 1377 suspects arrested, Limpopo
Violent criminals among 1377 suspects arrested, Limpopo. Photo: SAPS

The Police in Limpopo continue to tighten the grip on criminality as simultaneous operations conducted in all Districts across the Province from 29 August 2021 until 06 September 2021, led to the arrest of 1377 suspects aged between 21 and 54.

The suspects were arrested for various offences including rape, murder, armed robberies, attempted murder, assault, burglaries, stock theft, MITP, dealing in drugs, possession of unlawful firearms and ammunition and Contravention of the Disaster Management Act regulations.

▪️ Foreign owned shops and other businesses in Mopani District were the targets of armed criminals who were terrorizing the area, allegedly committing business robberies using a white Toyota Corolla as a getaway vehicle. On Thursday 2 September 2021 a similar vehicle with five occupants was spotted along the Tickyline road.

A team of operatives from the Tzaneen Tracking Team (TTT), Mopani Detectives assisted by Willie of Wilkie K9 and Letaba Security jointly operating in the area cornered the said vehicle and arrested all five suspects. Explosives, firearms and ammunition, clothing, number plates for different vehicles and 13 cellphones were found in the vehicle and confiscated. One of the firearms was reported to have been robbed from a Security Company in Bolobedu. The suspects have been linked to business robberies that plagued the area for some time.

▪️ The Waterberg District continues to succeed in tackling cases of business robberies taking place along the N1 and R101 roads in which criminals target motorists by placing spikes at some places on these roads and then rob them at gun point after experiencing punctures.

On Monday 6 September 2021, the Mokopane Crime Prevention, Modimolle Dog Unit, Mokopane CIG and Detectives successfully tracked down the suspects allegedly responsible for these robberies. Two were arrested and were found in possession of spikes carried in a bag, firearm and ammunition, plier apparently used to cut the fence along the road. One of the suspects is employed as a Security Guard at one of the Security Companies in the area and the other is an undocumented foreign national. The suspects have been linked to several robberies committed along the said roads.

▪ On Saturday 4 September 2021, the Detectives from Seshego SAPS arrested three suspects aged between 32 and 54 in connection with the murder of a 37 male victim the previous day, on 3 September 2021 at Moletjie GaMakibelo. The deceased was severely assaulted with sharp objects and succumbed to the injuries on arrival at the hospital.

▪ Two suspects involved in a spate of armed robberies in and around Mahwelereng policing precinct were finally arrested on 1 September 2021 during an Intelligence driven joint operation by Mahwelereng and Mokopane Detectives. The suspects aged 26 and 31 were found in possession of unlicensed firearm and one of the robbed cellphones at their homesteads in GaMadiba village.

▪ The prompt reaction by Crime Prevention and Vispol members from Bela-Bela and Modimolle jointly with Highway Patrol Team led to the arrest of three suspects aged between 28 and 39, shortly after they committed business robbery at a clothing store at Bela-Bela mall on Friday 3 September 2021.The suspects were arrested in Modimolle and the getaway vehicle, stolen cellphones to the value of R500 000-00 were recovered.

▪ On Friday 3 September 2021, Groblersdal Crime Intelligence Unit and Crime Prevention members supported by Gunmary Security arrested a 27-year-old suspect for possession of copper cables with an estimated street value of R15 000-00.The suspect was driving along the R25 Vaalfontein road outside Groblersdal town.

▪ The Police in Lebowakgomo jointly with Capricorn District Tracing team on Thursday 3 September 2021, arrested a 43 year old suspect for dealing in crystal meth drugs at his house in Extension 73, Lebowakgomo. During the search, nine small plastic bags containing the drugs with the estimated street value of R500-00 were confiscated.

▪ SAPS Vhembe District Trio task team jointly with the Detectives on 2 September 2021, arrested two suspects aged 28 and 32 at Tshivhulani village in Thohoyandou area for stock theft after they were found in possession of two cattle carcasses reportedly stolen at Makhuvha Tshilivho village.

Items such firearms, drugs including as crystal meth, dagga, mandrax, nyaope, motor vehicles, suspected stolen properties, counterfeit cigarettes and liquor.

The operations comprised of members of SAPS derived from various units in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies and were executed through roadblocks, stop and searches, raiding of unlicensed businesses including liquor outlets and tracing of wanted suspects.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has lauded the police for their persistent efforts in fighting crime in the province and for making the recoveries.

Some of the arrested suspects have started appearing before the local magistrate’s courts.

SAPS Newsroom

SOURCESouth African Police Service