Suspects arrested for allegedly raping school girl are amongst several nabbed for various crimes across the province

Two suspects aged 18 and 27 were on Saturday, 18 September 2021 arrested by the police in Malamulele for allegedly assaulting and raping a 16-year-old grade 10 learner at Roodhuis village. The suspects reportedly met the victim walking with friends on Friday, 17 September 2021 at about 20:30. They allegedly grabbed her and pulled her to the nearby bushes where they severely assaulted her and then took turns in raping her. The victim managed to find her way back home and informed her grandmother who in turn called the police. The suspects were traced and arrested and are expected to appear in Malamulele Magistrate Court tomorrow, Monday 20 September 2021.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Organised Crime Unit and Tracing Team arrested three foreign Nationals aged between 27 and 42 in Polokwane policing area on Wednesday, 15 September 2021 for possession and dealing in drugs. The police received a tip-off about suspects dealing in drugs and spontaneously planned an intelligence driven operation.

During the first incident, police followed up on an intelligence information which led them to the house owned by a foreign national in Bendor, Polokwane. The house was searched and 50 sachets of nyaope to the value of R2000-00 and 15 grams of Crystal Meth to the street value of R15000-00 were found in his possession and he was arrested on the spot.

In another incident, a 42-year-old man was arrested in Thornhill, Polokwane for possession of Crystal Meth with an estimated street value of R100 000-00, pure Heroin valued at R200 000-00 and “Boss” mandrax tablets with the street value of R26 000-00.

At the last scene, the team followed up on information which directed them to Bendor where a 29-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of 100 grams of Crystal Meth to the street value of R100 000-00. A silver grey Mercedes Benz was also seized.

In a separate incident, a 29-year-old suspect was arrested by the Police in Modjadjisklooof for a house robbery that occurred in the area on Friday, 17 September 2021 just after midnight. The members received information from a local security company about three suspects armed with rifles, who had just committed house robbery. The suspect was arrested on the same day at about 06:00, at a house in Mokgolobotho village following a positive tip-off. Some of the stolen items including fridge,stove, electric appliances, clothes, blankets, bicycles, grinders, solar power Batteries, etc were recovered. Police further confiscated three pellets rifles. The suspect will appear in Tzaneen Magistrates Court on Monday 20 September 2021. The hunt for the remaining suspects continues.

Anyone with information is requested to contact the Detective Commander Captain Pikana Shikwambane on 082 414 2736, crime stop number 08600 10111or the nearest Police Station.

In an effort to fight against smuggling, possession and dealing in illicit cigarettes, members of the Limpopo Highway Patrol (LHP), had on 14 September 2021, had reacted and arrested three foreign nationals aged between 29 and 43 at Masodi Village under Mahwelereng policing area after they were found transporting illicit cigarettes. The Police received a tip-off about a White Toyota Quatum Panel Van from Zimbabwe transporting the illicit cigarettes along R521 to Polokwane. The vehicle was ultimately spotted along the N11 road towards Mokopane. More than 50 boxes of illicit cigarettes containing more than 100 cartoons of illicit cigarettes with an estimated value of more than R2 million were confiscated.

Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the members for these successes and has thanked community members for continuously assisting the Police in fight against crime.

“We will not allow these criminals to torment our communities and will continue to squeeze them out of their hiding places to ensure every citizen feels safe and their properties are protected. We also applaud the continuous support of the community members”, concluded Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.

Police investigations are still continuing.

Source: South African Police Service

Aberdenn detectives seek information regarding murder

Police are investigating the murder of 33-year-old Elton Soetland of Coetzee Street Lotusville, after the deceased succumbed to facial injuries in hospital on Saturday, 18 September 2021 at 09:30.

It is alleged that Emergency Services had found the deceased lying at the corners of Nobuhle and Sithandiwe Street, Aberdeen, on the morning of Saturday, 18 September 2021, where he had been assaulted.

Aberdeen Detectives are Investigating a murder cases.

At this stage no one has been arrested for the murder and Aberdeen Police appeal to anyone with the information that may assist the Detectives in the investigation to pleases contact Detective Constable J. Jack on 049 0460015 or call the crime stop number 086 00 10 111. Information received will be treated with strictest confidentiality.

Source: South African Police Service

Police search for a missing girl

Police are searching for missing seven-year-old girl from Phahameng near Kestell.

On 18 September 2021, Tshepang Mosikidi (07) of Phahameng Section in Tlholong Township near Kestell went missing. She was last seen accompanying her friend of the same age going to a nearby shop. A friend alleged that they met a certain known man in the area, who gave them five rand and asked her to walk with him.

Any person with information with the regard to where about of the child or the man is requested to contact Detective Sergeant Patrick Mofokeng of Kestell at 076 362 6859 or the nearest police station even Crime Stop 08600 10111.

Source: South African Police Service

Police members arrest suspect in Khayelistha in possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition

Members of the Flying Squad were busy with patrols in the early hours of Saturday, 18 September 2021, when they spotted a few people roaming near to an intersection in Khayelitsha. Upon searching them, a 9mm pistol with ammunition was confiscated.

A 21-year-old man was arrested and detained as he could not produce a valid license to be in possession of the firearm. Once charged he is expected to make a court appearance in the Khayelitsha Magistrate court on a charge of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Source: South African Police Service

Suspects disarmed in Western Cape

Police members confiscated firearms and ammunition and arrested suspects in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Manenberg Crime Prevention Unit members were busy with patrols on Saturday, 18 September 2021, to ensure visibility in the area known for sporadic gang violence. The members received information and immediately reacted and drove to Ivy Gcina Street in Tambo Village. Upon arrival at the address the police members searched the address and found an unknown man sleeping on a bed. When they searched under the bed they found a 9mm pistol with ammunition. The 25 year old man was arrested and detained on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Meanwhile Samora Machel police members responded to a complaint of pointing of a firearm at about 20:45 on Saturday, 18 September 2021. The complainant accompanied the police members and upon arrival at Iraq informal settlement they found the suspect, pointed out by the complainant, and searched him. A Lama .45 pistol was found on the suspect and confiscated. The 23-year-old man was arrested and detained on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition as he could not provide a valid licence to be in possession of the mentioned firearm.

In an unrelated incident police members stopped a suspicious vehicle in Incora Street in Bardale, Mfuleni, in the early hours of Sunday, 19 September 2021. A Norinco 7.65 pistol with ammunition was recovered inside the vehicle. Three suspects aged 26, 30 and 31 were arrested and detained.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make a court appearance in the Athlone and Blue Downs Magistrate court respectively on Monday, 20 September 2021, on the mentioned charges.

Source: South African Police Service

Motorists warned to be vigilant of spikes on the road

Police warn motorists to be extra careful and vigilant after three armed men attacked the family whose car had stopped after they got a puncture at about 21h00 on Friday, 17 September 2021. It is reported that victims were driving on the R80 highway in Akasia when they hit what they suspected to be spikes placed on the road and the tyre went flat.

It is alleged that as the driver was changing a wheel with the wife standing on the side, they were attacked by three armed men who fired shots at them. The husband shot back and one suspect was hit on the upper body while the other two fled on foot. Members of Flying Squad who were part of Operation O Kae Molao conducted in Akasia and Garankuwa responded promptly and a replica firearm was recovered at the scene, next to the shot suspect who was later certified dead by paramedics.

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects who escaped from the scene and are warning motorists driving on R80 highway to be cautious, especially when driving at night.

The police have stabilised the incidents of car spiking in Gauteng roads that were on the increase, especially on the N4 highway and R566. Crime pattern analysis showed that as soon identified hotspots are mitigated with increased visibility of law enforcement and security partners then criminals either change their modus operandi or move to another location.

If motorists suspect that their tyre punctures are as a result of having driven over spikes, they must immediately alert the police by calling the SAPS emergency number 10111, scanning their immediate environment and by staying vigilant while changing their tyre but they feel unsafe then they must try to drive to the nearest filling station or police station.

In the meantime, fourteen suspects who were arrested in October 2020 for terrorising and robbing the community at R80, Theo Martinspoort R89 and the surroundings remain in custody and are expected to start with trial between September and December 2021.

Source: South African Police Service