Feared gangster killed in shoot-out with Vhembe police

LIMPOPO – A suspect  was shot and killed by the police while his accomplice fled on foot, during a shoot-out in Tshakhuma at around noon on March 29.

The deceased was identified as Tshimangadzo Nemaembeni (35) from Tshakhuma.

Nemaembeni and his accomplice were according to reports among the most feared gangsters in the area and linked to countless crimes in Vhembe.

Both were on the police’s most wanted list.

On the day of the incident, the police received a tip-off from locals who had seen the two men at the Tshakhuma graveyard, reportedly helping some people digging a grave for a funeral.

“As the police arrived at the graveyard, the two started to run away into nearby bushes, with the police in close pursuit. The suspects then opened fire on the police, who retaliated. Subsequently, one of the suspects was shot dead.

The other man managed to evade arrest and fled the scene on foot.

“A manhunt ensued for the remaining one,” said Limpopo police spokesperson, Brig Motlafelo Mojapelo.

The drama played out like a scene from a Hollywood action movie, with gunfire being exchanged between the armed suspects and the police.

An eyewitness, who cannot be named, said they heard gunfire between the police and the suspects, according to him, a big crowd had gathered at the scene within a short space of time.

“A man was lying face-down in a pool of blood. We suspected him to be one of the gang members that was being hunted by the police.”

Mojapelo warned criminals that they will meet the full might of the law should they continue to terrorise the communities. He also called on communities to work hand-in-hand with the police in fighting crime.

The spokesperson for the National Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Lizzy Suping said that the death of a suspect is being investigated.

“Our investigators are still in the area, verifying information,” she said.