LIMPOPO – A dedicated team comprised of members from various police units, has been established by the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba, to trace the members of a suspected criminal syndicate who currently operates in the Vhembe district.
The group of three to four unknown men, has been terrorising members of the community in and around the Bandelierkop, Waterval, Tshitale and Malamulele areas, respectively. Their modus operandi remains the same and includes hijacking and robbing the victim(s) before dropping them off. In one incident; two women were also gang-raped, according to a statement issued by Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
On 28 October, the group targeted two motorists along the R578 public road. ” At around 23:58, the Waterval Police Station received two separate reports of carjacking and kidnapping near Njhakanjhaka village. It is alleged that during both incidents, the suspects had hijacked the motorists at gunpoint then robbed them of money and their cellphones, before dropping them off nearby and fleeing with their vehicles.”
Ngoepe adds that in a separate incident, also in the Waterval policing area, a group of three suspects believed to be same as before, hijacked two couples during separate incidents. “They took them to the bushes and gang-raped the women in front of their partners before they fled in the stolen vehicles. Both male victims were shot and injured during these incidents.”
In the Malamulele policing area, a group of men hijacked three vehicles in three separate incidents. These stolen vehicles were used during business robberies in the area. All three hijacked vehicles were recovered by the police a few days later.
Ngoepe says the suspects always wear face covers and speak Zulu and a bit of Tsonga. “The police appeals to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects involved, to contact Lt Col Richard Boshomane at 079 894 5501 or Lt Col Mildred Muenda at 079 517 0017.
Alternatively, you can contact the police via the MySAPS app or on the 24-hour Crime Stop number at 08600 10111.
