Only electricity pay point bombed

The Makhado Municipality's only electricity pay point in the Sinthumule area was allegedly bombed during a robbery that occurred at the Tshiozwi Tribal Offices last Sunday.

Residents are now forced to travel to the municipality's headquarters in Louis Trichardt to buy their electricity. R40 000 in cash was stolen during the incident.

The spokesperson for the Tshilwavhusiku police, Const Godwin Mahuwa, said the incident took place at night, while the people were asleep. "We are investigating a case of  business robbery, following the incident," said Mahuwa. He added that no one had been arrested yet and that police investigations were still continuing. Although Mahuwa confirmed that the pay point had been bombed, he did not reveal what type of explosives were used during the incident.

The incident has now made it costly to get electricity, as residents must buy their electricity in Louis Trichardt. "It was very cheap buying electricity in the village. We did not even pay for a taxi to buy electricity," said some of the affected residents, which included a 69-year-old granny, Ms Masindi Mulaudzi.

The Tshiozwi pay point was the second Makhado Municipality pay point to be robbed in six months, following the Kutama pay point that was robbed in July last year.  Cash amounting to R22 000 was stolen during this robbery.

Makhado Municipality's municipal manager, Mr Shadrack Tshikalange, said that he was very disappointed that at the same time that they were trying by all means to take services to the people, there were people who were preventing it. He said that an internal investigation was launched, following the incident. "If we find that there was an involvement of our staff members in any way, harsh measures will be taken against them," said Tshikalange.

A traditional leader, Khosi Vho Rudzani Sinthumule, said that criminals wouldn't be tolerated in his area. "This is affecting both the service and our good relationship we have with the municipality," he said.

Sinthumule urged residents who might have seen anything to come forward and furnish the police with information, so that the culprit can be brought to book.

Date:23 January 2012

By: Peter Muthambi

Peter Muthambi graduated from the University of Venda with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies. He started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror as well as national papers in 2006. He loves investigative journalism and is also a very keen photographer.

Read: 1653