Police in Hoedspruit have arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with a case of malicious damage to property following the torching of a house at Sedawa Village.

Letaba Herald reports the suspect is expected to appear in the Hoedspruit Magistrate’s Court today (May 25).

According to Limpopo police, the arrest relates to an incident that took place on April 30, when the home of a local induna was attacked and later set alight, allegedly by community members, amid tensions over two missing persons cases.

Missing persons investigations

Police said anger in the community escalated following the disappearance of one-year-and-nine-month-old Kahlodi Pako Mokibelo, who was reportedly last seen on April 2.

Authorities are also continuing the search for 26-year-old Kgashane Shai, who was last seen at Sedawa Village on April 5 while speaking on the phone in his room.

According to his family, Kgashane, who is mentally challenged, has not been seen since that night.

Community members claimed that Kgashane had indicated during a soccer match that he knew who had taken the missing child before he also disappeared.

Police said community members accused the complainant, whose house was later torched, of being linked to the disappearances.

House torched after community march

Earlier search operations involving police, community members, search-and-rescue teams and K9 units reportedly failed to locate either of the missing persons.

On April 30, community members marched and handed over a memorandum to police, local authorities and traditional leaders demanding intensified search efforts.

Later that evening, the complainant’s house was set alight, damaging household items including a fridge, stove, wardrobe and furniture valued at about R60 000.

Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and to allow investigations to continue.

Police investigations remain ongoing.

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