LIMPOPO- Armed robbers fled with an undisclosed amount of money after bombing an ATM at Mphephu Plaza at Nzhelele in the early hours of Friday morning.
ATM blasts in the Vhembe area have dramatically increased in the past two months.
On May 14, an ATM was bombed at Sasekisa complex at Njakanjaka.
The community around the area was left cashless as it is almost the only ATM in the area from where they can withdraw money.
According to police spokesperson Lt Col Malesela Ledwaba, cases of malicious damage to property, unlawful use of explosives and armed robbery have been opened.
“We do not know the kind of explosive that was used to bomb the ATM yet, but the explosives unit had sent evidence to the forensic laboratory for tests,” he indicated. No arrests have yet been made.
Ledwaba appeals to the community to furnish the police with information that can lead to the arrest of any suspects.
Anyone with information should contact the nearest police station, the Crime Stop number on 0860 10111 or use the MySAPS App.
“Bringing ATMs to remote rural areas such as Nzhelele came as a relief for community members who prior, had to travel long distances to access banking services.
“Now criminals are bombing these ATMs. People who are doing this deserve to be put behind bars,” said a Nzhelele resident, David Mudzielwana.
He said that it was embarrassing for the community to see that, at the same time that banks were trying to bring development to the remote areas, “some stupid criminals are destroying the same efforts for development”.
