Lephalale boyfriend arrested for raping his girlfriend

Lephalale boyfriend arrested for raping his girlfriend

A 25-year-old Boyfriend was arrested on Tuesday, 24 October for raping his 18-year-old girlfriend in Lephalale, Limpopo.

According to reports the suspect went to his girlfriend’s residence at Mahlakung informal settlement at around 18:00 on 14 October.

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They allegedly had an argument and the suspect dragged her to the nearby bushes, where he assaulted and raped her. The victim opened a case of rape against him and a manhunt to arrest the suspect was activated. He was then traced and arrested.

Lephalale boyfriend arrested for raping his girlfriend
Crime Scene

BOYFRIEND IN LEPHALALE APPREHENDED FOR RAPE

Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe applauded the Police for moving swiftly to track down the suspect and apprehend him.

“Any perpetrator of Gender Based-Violence will be dealt with decisively and without fear or favour,” said General Hadebe.

The suspect is set to appear before Lephalale Magistrate’s Court soon.

Hitchhikers, motorists in Limpopo warned as more robbery incidents emerge

Hitchhikers, motorists in Limpopo warned as more robbery incidents emerge

Police have sent a strong warning to motorists and hitchhikers in Limpopo as more incidents of robbery and murder emerge.

This warning follows an incident that occurred on Thursday, 19 October wherein a 55-year-old man hitchhiked a Suzuki Swift motor vehicle near Mall of the North in Polokwane. He was going to Ga-Dikgale.

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It is alleged that three unknown suspects took the wrong direction, stopped, and produced pistols and a knife. They robbed him of all his belongings such as a cellphone, a wallet with cash worth R400, and bank cards. All valued at R5400. They further ordered him to run to the bushes before the suspects then drove off.

In another incident that occurred outside Seshego on Friday, 20 October, two victims between the ages of 24 and 25 respectively were hitchhiking from Westenburg to Steilop and Lephalale, Waterberg District in a silver Tazz Conquest motor vehicle.

The driver turned his motor vehicle in the wrong direction, produced a firearm, and robbed both victims of their belongings. Their cellphones, licenses, bank cards, and all other valuable items amounting to R7000.

This follows hard on the heels of an incident that took place along the Georges Valley on Friday 13 October. A female motorist and a man offered a lift to two unknown men. This resulted in a man driving along with the female motorist being killed in the process.

The female driver was raped and left in the bushes, and the motor vehicle was found burned in the Letsitele policing area.

STRONG WARNING TO HITCHHIKERS IN LIMPOPO FOLLOWING THREE INCIDENTS

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe urged members of the public to stay away from hitch-hiking or offering lifts to people that they do not know. She advises people who knock off from work very late to make use of public transportation, clubs, or staff transport. Instead of hitchhiking in order to reduce and prevent these incidents.

“I wish to call upon community members to resist the temptation of engaging in hitchhiking as they could endanger their lives in the process,” said Gen Hadebe.

Three Incidents are under investigation. No one has been arrested and Police are calling anyone with information to contact the nearest Police Station. Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or also MysapsApp.

Lephalale Businessman shot dead inside his dry clean business

Lephalale Businessman shot dead inside his dry clean business

A 65-year-old businessman was found dead in his dry clean business in Lephalale, Limpopo on Saturday afternoon. Police have since launched a manhunt for suspects following the incident.

According to information, an employee working in a dry clean noticed the door wide open and called the owner without a response.

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He then went in and found the old man lying facing up in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound. He rushed outside to call for assistance from people.

Police and Emergency Medical personnel were called to the scene, and the victim was certified dead.

The motive for the attack and subsequent killing is unknown. Preliminary investigation revealed that the cameras from the building were also ripped off and stolen. The Police opened a murder case for further investigation.

DRY CLEAN BUSINESSMAN FOUND DEAD IN LEPHALALE

Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned the incident. She has called the community to assist the Police with information that can lead to the apprehension of the suspects.

Any information that can help Police to arrest the suspects may contact Lt. Colonel Johannes Hlongwane on 082 565 7968. Crime Stop number 08600 10111, the nearest Police Station, or by sharing information on MySAPSApp.

Two Men caught stealing diesel at Matimba Power Station

Two Men caught stealing diesel at Matimba Power Station

Two male suspects aged between 32 and 57 years have been arrested for stealing diesel worth R 9 000 at Matimba Power Station in Lephalale. They were caught on Monday 28 August 2023 in Limpopo.

It is reported that members of the Crime Intelligence and K9 Units with the Matimba Security Service have conducted an operation following the information received from the source about the employee of a company subcontracted to Eskom at Matimba Power Station.

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The team reacted swiftly to the information whereby the suspect was traced. He was tracked subsequently and accosted while driving a Grader machine out of the Power Station. The culprit was headed into the nearby bush veld.

Two Men caught stealing diesel at Matimba Power Station
Diesel stolen at Matimba Power Station

This is where he drained the diesel into 25 litter containers. They loaded them into a motor vehicle a white Toyota Hilux which was found parked in the veld with one occupant, a 57-year-old male.

MEN CAUGHT STEALING DIESEL AT MATIMBA POWER STATION

The Police have recovered diesel worth R 9 000 and seized the vehicle with an estimated value of R20 000. They also confiscated 6x 25 litres, 1x 20 litres. 210 litre drums full of diesel which were found hidden in the bush.

Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe applauded the Team for their vigilance and dedication that led to the arrest and recovery of diesel.

The Suspects are expected to appear before Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 30 August 2023. They are facing charges of theft and also possession of suspected stolen diesel.

Awaiting trial prisoner escape from custody in Lephalale

Awaiting trial prisoner escape from custody in Lephalale

Police in Limpopo have launched a manhunt after a 32-year-old male awaiting trial prisoner escaped from lawful custody at Lephalale Station.

The suspect, identified as Anthony Makhusha, a Zimbabwean National was arrested for fraud on Tuesday, 08 August. It is alleged that he was in the Community Service Centre at about 13:00 when he escaped.

ALSO READ: Lephalale Municipality given 4 months to clean water pollution 

The circumstances surrounding the incident are forming part of the investigation. Police opened a case of Escaping from Lawful Custody for further investigation.

Awaiting trial prisoner escaped from custody in Lephalale
Escaped prisoner Anthony Makhusha

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has urged communities to assist the Police. With information regarding this suspect and not to attempt to apprehend him.

AWAITING LEPHALALE PRISONER ESCAPED FROM CUSTODY

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspect is urged to contact Detectives Commander Lieutenant Colonel Johannes Hlongwane on 082 565 7968. Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or the nearest police station.

Lephalale Municipality given 4 months to clean water pollution 

Lephalale Municipality given 4 months to clean water pollution 

The Lephalale Municipality in Limpopo has been given four months to clean up water pollution. This comes after an oversight visit to the Paarl wastewater treatment plant by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), municipal officials and the DA. 

ALSO READ: Six suspects arrested for mob justice in Lephalale  

The oversight visit revealed the following state of the treatment plant:

  1. The wastewater treatment plant is not fully operational, and is overflowing;
  2. Raw sewage flows into the Mogol river;
  3. The contamination affected the plant life and the municipality has yet to rehabilitate the area;
  4. The new treatment plant was built 2 years ago and is still not operational. The service provider abandoned the project as his contract was not renewed, and skills transfer were not done.
  5. The Exxaro grey water dam is managed by Lephalale municipality and upon arrival, the smell off rotten fish and sewage was unbearable. Hundreds of dead fish were also floating in the water. and;
  6. The Marapong waste treatment plant is not in operation; there is a sewage dam, but the raw sewage is not treated. The plant was built in 2010 at a cost of R13 million and has since been vandalised. 
Lephalale Municipality given 4 months to clean water pollution 
Lephalale Municipality

CLEAN WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM 

Officials claimed that they were unaware of the extent of contamination and took a water sample for testing.

The contaminated grey water is allocated to Mogol golf Club. Residents adjacent to the golf course also use this water in their gardens.

“Grey water plants must be monitored on a regular basis, which would have prevented this contamination, which can cause cholera,” said the DA. 

The SAHRC gave the municipality 4 months to clean up the contamination and we will closely monitor the process.

The 2022 Green Drop Report revealed that Limpopo scored 29% in the assessment of its wastewater treatment plants; 50 plants were deemed critical.

Boy [10] found burnt beyond recognition in a shack

Boy [10] found burnt beyond recognition in a shack

Police in Lephalale are investigating a case of inquest following the discovery of a 10-year-old boy, who was found in a shack burnt beyond recognition.

He was discovered on Sunday 2 July 2023 at about 00:30 at Marapong Ext 3 Manamela Park Squatter camp.

ALSO READ: Six suspects arrested for mob justice in Lephalale  

The police received information about the Lephalale burnt body of a 10-year-old boy after his mother left him in another room with his 17-year-old sister, who later left him alone at night. It is still not yet known what caused the fire.

Lephalale Boy [10] found burnt beyond recognition in a shack
Lephalale Municipality

YOUNG BOY BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION

According to reports Limpopo Emergency Services and Police were summoned to the scene. On their arrival, they found the boy was deceased. He was certified dead at the scene, and identified as Moshi Matsobane Bradly.

Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe cautioned parents to take extra care of their children. Particularly during the winter season.

She urged parents to always be aware of the whereabouts of their children, and not to leave fire unattended.

search operation to locate a missing Woman

search operation to locate a missing Woman

Police in Lephalale have launched a search operation following the disappearance of a missing woman. The 39-year-old Ntsetsa Anna Laka residing at Leseding Steenbokpan Lephalale.

According to the  information the woman was last seen on Sunday, 12 March 2023 leaving home with her boyfriend and has since disappeared.

Also read: Police in Thohoyandou request public assistance to locate missing woman 

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Several searches for the victim were conducted at her relatives, friends, and surrounding areas but were not successful.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts can contact Detective Commander Lieutenant Colonel Hlungwane on 082565 6879 or Crime Stop number 0860010111.

The search for the missing woman is ongoing.

Six suspects arrested for mob justice in Lephalale  

Six suspects arrested for mob justice in Lephalale  

Police in Witpoort outside Lephalale, have arrested five other suspects on Tuesday, 10 January 2023 for mob justice.

The suspects allegedly killed two men whom they accused of being responsible for committing robberies at foreign national shops around Senoela (Melkbosch) village.

On Wednesday 04 January 2023, the local community members gathered after the alleged suspects attacked the owner of one of the shops with pepper spray. They demanded cash.

The shop owner allegedly called for help and community members responded. On arrival at the shop, the alleged suspects also managed to escape.

The victims were later traced at their homes in the nearby village. They were also taken back to the shop. They were also stoned to death through mob justice.

A tactical joint operation comprising members of Lephalale Crime Intelligence Unit, Witpoort Detectives and Lephalale POPs resulted in the arrest of the first suspect yesterday, followed by the other five today.

Mob Justice
Mob Justice

MOB JUSTICE NOT ENCOURAGED

“The arrest of these suspects should send a strong message to all communities that the Police will not be tolerant to acts of lawlessness,” said Provincial Commissioner General Thembi Hadebe.

The deceased suspects were also identified as Duncan Mabila (25) and the other as only Steve reportedly from Zimbabwe

The six suspects aged between 27 and 43 are expected to appear before the Phalala Magistrate’s Court. They will appear on Wednesday 11 January 2022, facing two counts of murder.

Toddler dies after being locked in scholar transport

Toddler dies after being locked in scholar transport

Police in Lephalale have opened an inquest following the death of a 5-year-old toddler who was left in a in scholar transport.

The toddler was reportedly left locked in the vehicle unnoticed.

According to the Tzaneen Voice, the driver of the transport took the kids from a Creche to an Aftercare centre.

LEPHALALE TODDLER DIES 

Upon arrival at the Aftercare, the kids got out of the transport but the deceased remained without the driver noticing.

Toddler dies after being locked in scholar transport
Toddler dies after being locked in scholar transport

The driver then left the Aftercare and went to a local hotel in town (Lephalale), she locked the vehicle and left, waiting for the pickup time.

Around 15:00 she went to the vehicle to pick up the other shift of kids to take them home. But when opening the door of the vehicle she noticed the deceased lying down unconscious.

CHILD LEFT ALONE IN SCHOLAR TRANSPORT

She rushed the child to the local clinic where he was certified dead.

The family of the child has since been notified. Police suspect that the 5-year-old might have died of a possible heat stroke given the recent temperatures in that area.