Malamulele 10: Trial begins for police-station raid

LIMPOPO – Ten men accused of robbing firearms from the Malamulele Police Station and committing a series of armed robberies across Limpopo and Mpumalanga are set to stand trial in the Polokwane High Court this week.

According to Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, spokesperson for the Limpopo division of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Fokisi Godfrey Mabunda (40), Tshepho Mamila Masha (23), Gardon Tumpi Makutu (51), Desmond Teleki Phala (35), Lucas Kotoane Mahabane (42), Tebogo Frederick Ramalatso (42), Nicholas Maharaji Manzini (35), Tshepiso Matemana (31), and Lesley Dimakatso Leshabane (40), face 94 charges, including conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with aggravating circumstances, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, attempted murder, murder, malicious damage to property, possession of explosives, and housebreaking with intent to steal.

“It is alleged that between 2021 and 2022, the accused stormed the Malamulele Police Station, overpowered officers, and stole firearms from the station’s safe,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.

“Following this, they reportedly embarked on a crime spree targeting petrol stations, hardware stores, restaurants, and motorists across areas including Malamulele, Giyani, Sekgosese, Bolobedu, Waterval, Mokwakwaila, Botlokwa, Bandelierkop and Bushbuckridge.”

During these robberies, they are alleged to have stolen cash, cellphones and jewellery while threatening victims with the stolen firearms.

The accused were arrested on January 18, 2022 and firearms and ammunition were recovered. Ballistics tests later confirmed that the recovered firearms were linked to cartridges found at various crime scenes.

The trial is expected to last approximately three weeks.

Read more:

• Malamulele SAPS members held at gunpoint
• Malamulele 10 appear in court
• Two arrested in connection with Malamulele Police Station robbery