LIMPOPO – The body of Mavis Mabala has been found hidden in the bushes outside Phadzima Village on Saturday morning.
You may also want to read: Lim SAPS condemns torching of Vhulaudzi Police station
Mabala’s 30 -year-old boyfriend has been arrested for allegedly killing her and disposing of the body, said Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
Meanwhile the 21 people arrested for burning the Vhulaudzi Police Station and two police vehicles appeared in Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence, arson, malicious damage to property and illegal gathering. They were all denied bail and will again appear in the same court on 21 June 2017.
The Provincial Commissioner Lt General Nneke Ledwaba again reiterated his call to members of the community to give the police the necessary space to operate and desist from from engaging in acts of vigilantism. He concluded by commending all members who were involved in cracking this case.
10 May
LIMPOPO – Limpopo SAPS say they are condemning the torching in the strongest possible terms.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo explains the building was initially used as a satellite police station and was torched by the same community that made a call and demanded that it be converted into a fully-fledged police station.
“This call was answered as it meant taking policing services closer to the people,” he said.
Mojapelo says events unfolded on Tuesday night (9 May), following an illegal gathering by the community who proceeded to barricade the access road to the station and attacked it.
“The SAPS members on duty tried to repel them by firing shots but were overwhelmed by a mob of about 700, in the process.”
Mojapelo says police vans that were recently allocated to the station were burnt and the building was completely gutted.
Photo: Lim SAPS
The mob was protesting about the disappearance of Mavis Mabala (25) who had gone missing.
Public Order Policing members were deployed to reinforce the local police and managed to remove the barricades.
“Police immediately launched a manhunt and subsequently arrested six people aged between 19 and 41-years-old. One of the suspects aged 21 was admitted in hospital after he was shot in the thigh,” he said.
The arrested suspects will face charges relating to public violence, illegal gathering, arson and malicious damage to property.
“More arrests are expected,” Mojapelo concluded.
