Festive crime keeps Police on their toes

Police had their hands full in an effort to minimise criminal activities and to bring perpetrators to book during the Festive Season. Among the events that sent shock waves through Limpopo was the unexpected death of well-known local businessperson and member of Round Table Impala 157 Donovan Snyman on 15 December. After 16 Days of Activism Against the Abuse of Women and Children, the brutality on the vulnerable continued during the Festive Season as women and children became victims of sexual crimes and attacks.
Crime against women, children
Police in Louis Trichardt are searching for a man who allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl for four days in an unoccupied house between 11 and 14 December. Provincial Police Head of Corporate Communications Motlafela Mojapelo said it is reported that the girl was walking down Kleynhans Street in Louis Trichardt when she was grabbed, gagged and dragged to the house where she was allegedly repeatedly drugged and raped. “On the fourth day a passerby heard some noises as the girl was trying to escape. She was found with her hands tied behind her back, gagged, unable to walk properly and bleeding. She was taken to hospital and investigations continue,” Mojapelo said.
On 13 December Monnica Tisa (8) went missing after walking to a tuck shop at Ga-Phaahla Village outside Nebo. Her body was found three days later. It is believed she was strangled. No arrests have been made yet.
A 26-year-old woman was shot and killed by her 53-year-old boyfriend at Ga-Moloi Village outside Nebo on Christmas Day. Mojapelo said the incident followed after an alleged dispute between the couple. “The woman fled to her neighbour but her boyfriend followed, shooting and killing her. He returned home where he turned the weapon on himself.”
Also in Nebo, Police have arrested Phaladi Mahlaba a traditional healer on Saturday for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl the previous day. It is alleged that the traditional healer drugged the girl and raped her. The healer disappeared after the incident but Police investigations led to his quick arrest.
Fraud and corruption
Two men were arrested in Polokwane in the middle of December on charges of fraud. The suspects reportedly pretended to be officials from South African Revenue Service (SARS) and has taken CVs from job seekers. “They would allegedly return to the applicants later informing them that they have been successful and that money need to be paid for uniform and ID card. Police received information and quickly reacted. Both were arrested and SARS ID cards and uniforms were confiscated. One suspect was allegedly an intern at SARS in 2012,” Mojapelo said.
Limpopo Hawks also arrested a bogus Home Affairs official at Beitbridge. See story elsewhere.
Murder, mob justice
A hitchhiker was robbed and killed in Louis Trichardt on 21 December. Police are looking for four suspects in a white Isuzu double cab bakkie who allegedly offered Christopher Ramakhumisani (37) a lift. “He was injected with a substance, robbed and dumped next to the road. When Police found him he was still able to talk and taken to hospital where he died,” Mojapelo said.
Rihangwele Ramaremisa was stabbed to death outside his house in Thohoyandou and his cellphone stolen on Christmas Day. Two suspects have been arrested.
Police in Hlogotlou and Westenburg are investigating two separate incidents of mob justice. A 36-year-old man was burnt to death by community members at Hlogotlou after a woman’s body was found in his house on 26 December. On Friday community members killed a man at the Polokwane bus terminal after being accused of wearing stolen clothes. The man has still not ibeen dentified.
Cops under attack
Karel Johannes Rossouw was expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court last week facing charged of attempted murder, robbery and crimen injuria after he allegedly assaulted a Police captain at Mall of the North on 26 December. Mojapelo said an alleged argument erupted and the captain was overpowered, his firearm taken from him and he was threatened with it. “A passerby managed to take the firearm from Rossouw and Police were called to the scene. The captain was seriously injured and flown to a hospital in Pretoria,” Mojapelo said. The court outcome was not available by the time of going to print.

Story: RC Myburgh
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