LIMPOPO – Twenty suspects wanted for various serious crimes committed in the Giyani, Hlanganani, Malamulele, Gravelotte and Hoedspruit areas were arrested during Operation “Thatha Zonke”.
Operation Thatha Zonke was in full swing in the Giyani Cluster from Thursday 1 February 2017 and will continue until all identified suspects are brought to book, said Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
In the Giyani policing precinct, the police arrested two siblings and a friend for the murder of a 56-year-old man in Mageva village just outside Giyani on 4 February 2018.
“It is alleged the suspects and the victim were drinking together at a local tavern when the eldest suspect (56) accused the deceased of sleeping with his girlfriend. He slapped the victim with an open hand and a scuffle ensued, whereby the one suspect stabbed the victim twice in the chest and once in the back. The second suspect then hit the victim on back of the head using a stone and the third suspect kicked him,” explained Netshiunda.
“The victim was rushed to Nkhensani Hospital but was certified dead on arrival. The suspects have been on the run since the incident but their freedom was brought to an abrupt end on Thursday night during Operation Thatha Zonke. All the suspects will appear before the Giyani Magistrates Court on Monday on charges of murder.”
In other successes attained during Operation Thatha Zonke include the following:
- In Gravelotte, two suspects were arrested for possession of gold and for illegal hunting on Thursday evening.
- In Hlanganani, two suspects were arrested for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. One suspect was nabbed for burglary residence while the other was busted for violating a protection order.
- In Malamulele, two suspects were arrested for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
- In Lulekani, one man was arrested for attempted murder, two arrested for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and another two suspects were nabbed for malicious damage to property and for sexual assault.
- One suspect was arrested by the Giyani FCS for rape. Police in Phalaborwa and their counterparts in Namakgale arrested one suspect each for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
- In Hoedspruit one suspect was arrested for burglary residence.
