Limpopo crime syndicate members sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, armed robbery
Four of the five accused were out on on parole for similar previously committed offenses
LIMPOPO – The Polokwane High Court on Friday sentenced four armed robbery syndicate members to life imprisonment sentences and a fifth member to 11 years for crimes committed in the Tzaneen cluster during 2016.
In a statement released, Police spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said four of the members were on parole for similar crimes committed previously. They were sentenced as follows:
The fifth accused, Tshepo Metle (35) was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three years for possession of unlicensed firearm and six months for possession of unlicensed ammunition.
These sentences were meted out for two separate incidents which happened on 12 December 2016. Ngoepe explained: “On the day in question at around 12:10, the five accused were driving a black Mercedes-Benz, when they came across a security guard on a bicycle and stopped in the pretense of asking for direction. During the incident the guard was shot and as they attempted to load the victim into the backdoor of the vehicle other motorists passed by so they stole the victim’s gun and drove off. The victim was taken to the hospital by other motorists but later died.”
“On the same day, at about 17:00, the police were tipped off about a planned armed robbery in the Tzaneen Policing area. The Provincial Tracking Team was immediately activated and followed up on the information until they spotted the described motor vehicle driving along Tzaneen and Letaba crossing road. The Police tried to stop these suspects but they sped off and a motor vehicle chase ensued. In the process, the suspects started shooting in the direction of the police, who retaliated until the suspect’s motor vehicle lost control and crash into a fence alongside the road. All five suspects were arrested and two firearms, balaclavas, jamming devices and other items were seized.”
Police investigations unfolded and all the accused were positively linked to the earlier shooting of the security guard through one of the recovered firearm which was identified as that of the deceased, Matome Calvin Machete (44), Ngoepe said.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has applauded the Provincial Tracking Team who worked tirelessly until these perpetrators were removed from the streets. He further applauded the residents who supported the police through the supply of quality and reliable information which led to these arrests.
