Teens arrested for spaza robbery outside LTT
Three arrested for Madombidzha spaza shop robbery, face charges including robbery, firearm and explosives possession.
LIMPOPO – Two robbery suspects, along with a homeowner, were arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a spaza shop in Madombidzha on September 5.
The suspects, aged 18 and 17, were found in possession of stolen goods, explosives, and an unlicensed firearm.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the robbery occurred around noon at a spaza shop owned by a Somali businessman.
The suspects robbed the store at gunpoint before fleeing into nearby bushes.
Acting on a tip-off, the police located the suspects hiding in the ceiling of a house in Ramantsha village, where they also found the stolen items, explosives, and a firearm.
The suspects, Puluko Masipa (18) and a 17-year-old minor appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court last Monday, facing charges of business robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm, explosives, and suspected stolen goods.
Their case was postponed to September 12.
The homeowner, Mapula Mathibela (39), was also arrested after the suspects claimed to have found the explosives in her house.
She was charged with possession of explosives and appeared in court alongside the two suspects. It is believed that the explosives were obtained from a family member working in the South African Air Force in Pretoria.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, provincial police commissioner, praised the swift police action, stating, “This success demonstrates the value of coordinated efforts and the unwavering dedication of our officers in ensuring the safety of our people.”
