[ad_1]
More than 1,500 people were arrested in Limpopo last week. (Photo by Gallo Images / Brenton Geach)
- A police sergeant has been arrested for his alleged involvement in an attack on a cash van in Limpopo.
- He was one of more than 1,500 people arrested last week for various crimes in the province.
- Drugs and stolen property were some of the many items recovered during the joint operations.
A 34-year-old police sergeant attached to the Tshilwavhusiku Police Station is one of 1,554 people arrested for various crimes committed in Limpopo in the past week.
The sergeant, who is also a detective, was arrested on Sunday morning, along with a security officer, for armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery following an incident at a Madombidzha gas station on August 13.
According to the provincial police spokesman, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the sergeant positively related to the incident after an exhaustive police investigation.
Mojapelo said:
During this armed robbery, three security guards carrying cash arrived at this service station and one got out of the vehicle before unloading the money. Suddenly he was approached by a suspect [the police sergeant] armed with a firearm, who disarmed him from his service pistol.
“Another group of about eight suspects emerged and began firing at the van. The suspects thereafter fled in a silver Toyota Hilux. A 37-year-old security guard was later arrested in connection with the incident,” Mojapelo said.
All other people were detained during coordinated joint operations carried out in all districts of the province between August 24 and 31, resulting in the recovery of firearms and vehicles and the confiscation of illicit dagga, liquor and cigarettes.
Joint operations
The teams were made up of members of various units and operations were carried out in conjunction with traffic officers and members of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF).
Suspects arrested face charges ranging from murder, rape, sexual assault, stock theft, possession of firearms without a license, possession of dagga and drug trafficking, possession of allegedly stolen property, robbery, assault, robbery, robbery, damage malicious to property and theft. The rest of the charges are driving under the influence of alcohol, drinking in public, possession of illicit cigarettes, illegal immigration, possession of dangerous weapons, possession of motor vehicles suspected of theft, traffic violations and the violation of the regulations of the Law of Disaster Management. .
Mojapelo added that the police managed to recover 12 firearms, 126,443 illicit cigarettes, 32 kg of dagga, 32 grams of nyaope, 56 knives, three vehicles and some liquor. Other stolen goods included groceries, construction supplies, cell phones, livestock, a large amount of cash, computers, laptops, printers, and a car battery.
Stock theft
“In another incident, members of the stock theft unit managed to arrest two more suspects who are believed to be part of a stock theft syndicate that operates across the province. On Thursday, five suspects aged between 27 and 35 years old they were arrested in Bela-Bela after being caught transporting cattle suspected of theft.
“Further investigations were carried out and two other suspects aged 32 and 56 were arrested in Mokopane and R31 100 in cash, seven head of cattle and one bakkie with a trailer were confiscated. The cattle were reported to have been stolen from the village of Gedroogte in Zebediela and was returned to the proprietary legal place. “
Police officer Ramarumo Tshifhiwa and his alleged accomplice appeared in Tshilwavhusiku Magistrates Court on Monday on charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He will be placed in custody until September 3 for a formal request for bail. His alleged accomplice, Matome Rathidili, was granted bail of 5,000 rand.
All the other suspects have appeared before different courts in the province.
The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, praised all members for conducting “well-coordinated” operations.
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
