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Policeman killed during armed robbery at Mavhunga

After living through a hellish weekend, in which three suspects went on a rampant crime spree, the community of Nzhelele can now once again sleep soundly.

Local police have confirmed this week that two of the tree men who are suspected of causing widespread fear among the community are behind bars. They were arrested last Tuesday (9th) after they had allegedly hijacked an Indian businessman, Mr Inyat Abdul Patel (42) of Makhado (Louis Trichardt), at gunpoint along the Witvlag road.

According to information supplied by the police, Norman Raluswinga (30) and Tumelo Naledzani Matsipi (32) are also accused of a spate of other crimes that left the Nzhelele community fearing for their lives. A third suspect was still at large at the time of going to press. 

The community’s weekend of anguish started on Friday, 5 September, when the Toyota Corolla of Mr Matidzha Muraga was stolen from outside his house at Ha-Raliphaswa Village. Muraga’s vehicle was removed from his home through a hole thieves had cut into his fence. When he woke up the next morning, his vehicle was missing, and at the time of our going to press, the police were investigating the case and had yet to recover his vehicle.

On the Sunday (7th) the crime spree continued when a security guard, on duty at the Ha-Mavhunga Clinic, was robbed of his service pistol. The guard was attacked by three men who were still unknown to the police at that stage. Only a few hours after this incident, a tuck shop at Mauluma Village was robbed of R1 200 in cash, three cell phones and packets of chicken intestines. The shop owner was held at gun point by two suspects.

The weekend ended in sorrow when W/O Joseph Netshitulame was killed during an armed robbery. Netshitulame, who was working at the transport division of the Makhado police station, was shot in the stomach by three suspects at the Ha-Mavhunga RDP houses, when he was about to close his tavern. He was taken to the local hospital and later transferred to the provincial hospital. He passed away the following day as a result of a wound sustained from the shooting.

Netshitulame's family described his passing as a cruel, gruesome and traumatizing event. Talking to Limpopo Mirror last Tuesday, Mr Thomas Netshitulame, the deceased's younger brother, said the incident was horrible. “As family we never expected my brother to die like that,” he said. Netshitulame, from Matanda village, was buried at the village’s local cemetery last Saturday morning. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Following last week’s botched hijacking and the two’s arrest, the Mphephu police have also confirmed that they found a firearm in the men’s possession. This firearm is currently undergoing ballistic tests in Pretoria to see whether it was used to murder W/O Netshitulame.

Masipi and Raluswinga appeared in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 11 September, on charges of armed robbery, the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and car hijacking. They are also facing charges of business robbery and theft in other local courts.

The two will remain in custody and appear in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on 18 September for a formal bail application.

W/O Joseph Netshitulame was shot during an armed robbery at his tavern last Sunday evening. He later died in hospital.

Story/Video Produced by:

Author: Phathutshedzo Luvhengo

Date:19 September 2014

Read: 10238

Phathutshedzo Luvhengo

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