Armed robbers a menace in Limpopo

Limpopo Police are working around the clock to apprehend approximately 28 suspects involved in at least four armed robberies across the province since last Tuesday. The 28 suspects include 17 allegedly responsible for a cash-in-transit robbery between Tzaneen and Gravelotte.
Cash in transit
Three of the incidents occurred on Monday with the latest being a cash-in-transit robbery on the Tzaneen/Gravelotte road where approximately 17 armed suspects launched an attack on a cash-in-transit vehicle at about 18:45. Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe said it is reported that at least five vehicles pulled up to the armoured vehicle occupied by three security guards. When the vehicles came to a standstill the suspects opened fire on all sides. “The guards were wounded. The robbers blew the safe open and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. No arrests have been made yet.”
Clothing store, butchery robbed
In another incident on Monday three armed men stormed a clothing store in Jane Furse Cros­­­­­sing at midday. Ngoepe said the suspects allegedly held up staff and robbed the shop of 115 cell phones and an undisclosed amount of cash. No shots were fired.
Meanwhile Police launched a manhunt for at five suspects who allegedly robbed a butchery at Ritavi at about 05:15 on the same day. “It is alleged that the armed robbers attacked the security guard and tied him up. They entered the butchery through the roof and reportedly stole stock worth R7 000, a Nissan bakkie, computer monitor and cash.” Police discovered the abandoned bakkie near Sekororo. No arrests have been made yet.
Farm attack
Police in Mara outside Louis Trichardt arrested seven Zimbabwean nationals and confiscated three unlicensed firearms after an attempted robbery and assault on farm workers on Friday.
“They tied the workers up and ordered them to call the farm owner. When the owner did not respond, the suspects moved to the farmhouse with the workers but were spooked when the alarm went off,” Ngoepe said, adding that the suspects assaulted the workers with an axe and knife before fleeing the scene.
Members of the Farm Watch pulled over a vehicle later that evening and found the Zimbabweans in possession of illegal firearms. The Police were notified and the arrests were made. They were due to appear in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Conservationist robbed
During an incident last Tuesday a man travelling in a vehicle of the Department of Nature Conservation in Giyani was robbed of the vehicle, a 9 mm pistol, two cell phones, ammunition, cash, a panga, safe keys and a jersey. Ngoepe said the victim was pulled over by three suspects in a Volkswagen Polo. “They pulled the victim from the vehicle and put him inside the Polo’s boot. They drove off with him to the bush outside Ndhambe Village where they tied him to a tree and fled the scene.”
15 years for armed robber
Limpopo Hawks has welcomed the 15 years sentencing of armed robber Daniel Tsima by the Jane Furse Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Hawks Spokesperson Matimba Maluleke said Tsima and three accomplices were in­volved in the killing of a man in 2009. “The suspects were hitchhiking outside Jane Furse. A motorist gave them a ride and along the way they produced a firearm and robbed him of his cell phone and cash. They put him in the boot of the car and drove off. One of the suspects lost control of the vehicle and it overturned. The victim managed to escape from the boot and ran into the bushes,” he said.
He added that the four suspects fatally shot a man who stopped to help. “They also robbed emergency personnel of cell phones and money before fleeing the scene in the deceased’s vehicle.” Tsima was arrested and confirmed to have been involved. He assisted in the arrest of Kgaogelo Mokgomogane who was later acquitted of all charges. A third suspect, Jimmy Mogashoa was also identified but died of natural causes before he could be arrested. A fourth suspect is still at large.

Story: RC Myburgh
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