Limpopo sees increase in business robberies

POLOKWANE – Filed dockets of business robberies across Limpopo between October 28-31 paint a picture that may be of concern to entrepreneurs, especially those in the townships and villages as the festive season is fast approaching.

Police only provided information on eight high profile business robbery cases from across the province to the media, which leaves room for the possibility of more cases having been reported.

Of concern for locals is that the Seshego and Capricorn areas neighbouring Sekhukhune appear in the report more than once in a request for public assistance or announcements for suspect court appearances.

In all these cases, a complex, café, shopping centre, tuck shop or liquor restaurant had been targeted, in many instances by armed suspects.

Last Saturday in Seshego, a security officer who was later regarded as brave by provincial police spokesperson, Brig Hlulani Mashaba, shot one of four suspects aged between 18 and 35 from a distance to diffuse a spaza shop robbery at Ga-Hlahla.

The suspects immediately fled the scene, Mashaba said.

“They first went into the victim’s shop, pretending to be customers. He opened the door for them when one of the men fired a shot into the air.”

Police later seized the vehicle and a pistol with a filed off serial number and seven rounds of live ammunition, he said. The men were later arrested while seeking medical attention for their accomplice who had been shot.

The police have also hailed recent successes.

On October 13, police apprehended three gang members believed to have been part of a group of men responsible for house and business robberies, hijackings, and taxi-related murders.

The men, aged between 29 and 40, had committed various crimes including business robberies in Polokwane, Seshego, Moletjie, Botlokwa, Makotopong, Madiga and Mankweng.

During the arrests, police recovered five firearms and ammunition, police insignia (badges) and handcuffs.