Godfrey Mashudu Rabali (31) appeared before the Lenyenye Regional Court on Monday, August 15, on a theft charge. Bail was set and the case was adjourned to September 5. On the very next day, he was allegedly caught on a CCTV camera searching through a victim’s bag at Frans Du Toit High school in Phalaborwa. He again allegedly portrayed himself as a parent and walked away with a wedding ring and an unknown number of laptops from the school. This prompted a search by the community in Phalaborwa.
He was apparently spotted at a gambling establishment. Police were notified and he was taken to the Phalaborwa Police Station. On Tuesday, August 23, police in Phalaborwa confirmed that they arrested the suspect on August 17. “He is facing several counts of burglary and theft-related cases. The suspect is also wanted in Tzaneen where he allegedly committed similar offenses,” said police spokesperson, Sgt Elvis Prince Mongwe in a statement to the Herald.
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Mongwe stated: “Several items were recovered at his rental apartment and were positively identified. A police investigation is underway and the possibility of linking the suspect with other reported cases cannot be ruled out.” He is currently in custody in Phalaborwa. The man’s alleged modus operandi first came to the Herald’s attention when he stole two laptops at Tzaneen Primary School after school hours on July 20.
Grade 4 teacher, Jacques Rossouw told the Herald at the time that after classes ended for the day, he left his bag with his laptop and charger in his office that he shares with two other teachers. He then continued to attend a meeting. When he returned, his laptop had vanished. CCTV footage at the school revealed a man in a cap and face mask walking through the school corridors, checking for unlocked classes and offices. He is seen leaving the school with what presumably are laptops.
In Hoedspruit, the same man allegedly stole from five shops of which three are in the Kamogelo Centre. A victim told the Herald that she reported the thief to the police after she saw a social media post from another victim in Phalaborwa. He was arrested in Hoedspruit on Monday, July 25. He appeared before the Hoedspruit Magistrate’s Court and was released on bail. The case was later transferred to the Lenyenye Regional Court which is to reappear on September 5.
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“At the time I told the police that the suspect is being sought on other cases in Phalaborwa and Tzaneen, but somehow he managed to get bail. At the police station, he was wearing the same cap as the one on the CCTV footage. He also mentioned he was in Phalaborwa on the morning he was arrested. When I saw the posts about people being robbed, I was able to connect the incidents,” the victim explained.
In a previous incident in Phalaborwa, the thief is allegedly also connected to an incident where a man pretending to be a parent at Kingfisher Private School entered the premises. Herald contacted the National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi with the case numbers. She confirmed that it is the same person that is accused in these cases.
