A well-known local businessman who is among 10 men arrested for the brazen robbery at Malamulele police station is believed to be the ring leader of a syndicate that has committed a string of robberies in several areas in Limpopo.
The 48-year-old man, who cannot be named until he has appeared in court, hails from one of the remote villages in Giyani and is allegedly the mastermind who assembled a group of men and provided them with firearms and ammunitions used to attack various spots.
Two police sources have revealed how the man led police to his home where several illegal pump guns were recovered.
Though provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe confirmed that the alleged kingpin was arrested, she said profiling of the accused was still underway.
Hadebe said the alleged kingpin was found in one of the lodges in Mpumalanga and had been “plotting to commit an ATM bombing”.
“Its true the kingpin was arrested in Mpumalanga. But to us he is not a businessman, he is just a pure thug,” said Hadebe.
The commissioner said all accused would face charges including the attack on the police station, possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition, possession of explosive, conspiracy to commit crimes, murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances and car hijackings.
The crimes were committed in all five municipal districts in Limpopo with each recording more than 15 cases at the hands of the gang.
During the attack at Malamulele police station, the suspects also got away with R16,000 of bail payments.
Sowetan understands that the stolen firearms were already used in the commission of robberies in Bolobedu. Hadebe said the firearms were used during an ATM bombing in Mokwakwaila during which a person was shot at.
“After the guns were stolen, the group used the same firearms (including 9mm pistols, R5 rifles and pump guns) to rob businesses in Malamulele and further shot randomly at motorists who were passing by. I’m happy that we finally caught these guys and my team is on the ground tracing outstanding suspects,” she said.
Hadebe said the men were also involved in the bombing of a safe drop at the Total garage near Capricorn toll gate on the N1 highway were they shot and injured police officers.
A police insider said: “He is known for manufacturing steel pots and he is also the ring leader of the gang that steals cables to manufacture pots, which result in communities experiencing power cuts. He is the one who supplies the syndicate with firearms and ammunitions.
“Some of the rifles stolen at Malamulele police station were also found in his house,” said the officer.
The insider added that the kingpin’s arrest came after they bust the first group inside a house in Medinyeni in Kgapane, outside Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo.
Another source said the deputy leader of the group, who was arrested in Medinyeni, had previously been convicted of stock theft and had spent two years in jail.
“The suspect would use his house to stash guns and stolen items. He was the one who recruited young boys around Bolobedu to join the syndicate that terrorised businesses,” said the cop.
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