The police intensify the fight against crime in all districts
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe strongly condemn violent protests and vigilantism that took place in some parts of the Province. This follows violent protests that erupted at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou since Sunday, 10 September 2023. The student protests continued for days with incidents of violence disrupting operations inside and outside the campus.
The Public Order Police Unit was dispatched to the area together with the local police to defuse the situation. The students barricaded the main gate with tyres and when police tried to disperse them, they threw stones at their vehicles. One police’ nyala was damaged and a police’ van was burned after the protesters allegedly lobbed a makeshift patrol bomb at the vehicle.
The police managed to stabilise the situation and a case of public violence and two counts of malicious damage to property were opened.
The recent incident follows a spate of violence in the Province. In Giyani under Mopani District, eleven suspects aged between 34 and 64 were arrested earlier this month in connection with the taxi association feud that lasted for a couple of days. In one incident, a 48-year-old taxi driver was allegedly attacked and injured by a rival group.
The accused were remanded in custody until 18 September 2023 when they appeared before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 12 September, facing charges related to public violence, assault GBH and attempted murder.
In another incident that took place on the 05 September 2023 at Mafefe-Maredi Village in Malipisdrift Policing area near Lebowakgomo, a mob took the law into their own hands, and brutally killed a 35-year-old man and torched two vehicles after a robbery at a tuck shop in the nearby village. The other suspects managed to escape.
“It is our duty to ensure that Limpopo remains a safe Province for all who live in it. We shall not tolerate any lawlessness. I am calling every Sector of the Society to remain responsible in all their dealings. I want to warn those who continuously demonstrate their anger by acts of violence damaging property, critical infrastructure including state resources that we shall stop at nothing in securing their arrest and convictions by our call. The instability caused by taxi feud in some parts of the Province is totally condemned as it threatens the safety of the others and will not be tolerated. “Concluded the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Hadebe.
There are no arrests yet in Vhembe but police’ investigations have been intensified to track down the suspects. Anyone with information can contact Captain Takalani Siaga on 082 469 2302 or at 015 960 1000, the Crime Stop 08600 10111 or the nearest Police Station or use MySAPSApp.
Source: South African Police Service