LIMPOPO – Three of the 10 accused in the Malamulele Police Station robbery were remanded in custody by the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court on Friday (February 11).
In a statement, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the regional spokesperson for the Limpopo National Prosecuting Authority explained that the case was postponed for the accused to secure their legal representatives.
“The accused, Godfrey Mabunda (41), Sello Simon Sedi (42) and Tumbu Gadron Makutu (48) each face one count of murder, five counts of attempted murder, one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of explosives and three counts of hijacking,” she explained.
The accused are set to appear in court on February 17. “Two more suspects are expected to join the accused in court,” she concluded.
February 3
LIMPOPO – Three of the 10 accused in the Malamulele Police Station robbery face extra charges after police investigations linked them to additional crimes which were committed in the Bolobedu and Malamulele areas.
The accused, Godfrey Mabunda (41), Sello Simon Sedi (42) and Tumbu Gadron Makutu (48) appeared in the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (February 2) for their alleged involvement in the Malamulele Police Station robbery on 21 November. They appeared on three counts of robbery with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, each.
Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the regional spokesperson for the Limpopo National Prosecuting Authority, explained that during the proceedings new information came to light. The trio are now linked to a bombing at a hardware store in Bolobedu and a shooting incident at the Malamulele traffic circle. They face additional charges linked to these crimes.
The matter was postponed to February 11 for bail application. Meanwhile, the remaining seven suspects have also appeared in the Giyani, Waterval and Kgapane magistrate’s courts in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. They face one count of murder, five counts of attempted murder, six counts of robbery with aggravated circumstances, three counts of hijackings a as well as charges of unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
On November 21, a group of armed suspects stormed the Malamulele Police Station and robbed the members on duty of their firearms.
The 10 suspects were arrested on January 19 during a joint SAPS operation conducted by a team of investigators that included the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence, the Limpopo Tracking Team and the Provincial Investigations Unit.
According to earlier information, four of the suspects were found at their hideout in Madinyeng village near Kgapane under the Bolobedu policing area, and three were arrested at a lodge in Dwarsloop outside Bushbuckridge.
Three more suspects were arrested near the Capricorn toll gate along the N1 north where a police warrant officer attached to the Botlokwa station was shot and wounded, while they robbed him of his service pistol.
Their arrests followed after information was received about these suspects intending to commit ATM bombings in Mpumalanga.
Explosives, 11 firearms (some of the robbed SAPS firearms) and ammunition, bullet proof vests, illicit cigarettes, blasting cartridges, balaclavas and undisclosed amount of money and two vehicles were confiscated during these arrests.
Two motor vehicles, a Toyota bakkie and a Mercedes Benz which were reportedly used to commit these crimes, were also seized.
