A former deputy director of the Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Facility (SACM) who became a businessman, the 61-year-old Clement Raphalalani, was shot dead at his workshop in Celliers Street, Louis Trichardt, on Monday afternoon.
According to Vhembe police spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi, an unidentified man arrived at Raphalalani's workshop and asked an employee about his employer's whereabouts. After being told that his boss was not in the vicinity, the employee was taken hostage and informed that he would be released as soon as Raphalalani arrived.
Dathi said that two more suspects arrived at the workshop when Raphalalani returned, and a heated argument ensued between the men. Shortly afterwards, at around 16:00, Raphalalani was shot.
After the shooting, the suspects forced the employee to start one of the trucks at the workshop – a white Mercedes-Benz tipper truck with registration number DWP 575 L. One of the suspects got into the truck and drove off. The two remaining suspects then forced the employee into the boot of one of Raphalalani's vehicles and sped off along the R524 towards Thohoyandou. However, the vehicle overturned near Levubu and the suspects fled the scene.
The accident was reported, and when the police arrived, they heard sounds coming from the boot of the vehicle. It was then that they discovered the injured employee, who immediately informed them of what had transpired at the workshop in Louis Trichardt. The police rushed to the scene, only to find Raphalalani dead in a pool of blood.
According to Dathi, a case of murder, kidnapping, and car hijacking has been opened, and a manhunt for the killers is under way. "Anyone with information that can assist us in locating the suspects may contact the investigating officer, Det-Sgt Shumani Kwinda, on (071) 355-0575. Alternatively, report it to the nearest police station, call the Crime-Stop number at 08600 10111, or send a tip-off via the MySAPS app," he said.
A family representative, Mr Moses Raphalalani, said the family was in mourning and had many unanswered questions. "The way he died has left us with sore hearts, and it will take a long time to heal. Government should re-impose the death penalty. The perpetrators should be punished by death – an eye for an eye," he said.
On 18 August 2021, Raphalalani was convicted of corruption by the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. The court heard that between 2017 and 2018, while employed as chief financial officer at the SACM facility outside Louis Trichardt, Raphalalani, in his professional capacity as a procurement officer, colluded with three companies that were awarded tenders to supply various items to the facility. These companies were Clemenson Carrier, Pengson Manufacturing, and Vhalenda Zwashu Trading Enterprise.
The evidence proved that he had conspired with the three companies to secure tenders in exchange for kickbacks. All parties pleaded guilty to charges of corruption and several counts of fraud.
During the criminal proceedings, the court ordered a separation of trials, and the three cases were heard separately. When Raphalalani appeared in court for judgement, he was ordered to repay R569,500. Clemenson Carrier was ordered to repay R369,380, while Pengson Manufacturing and Vhalenda Zwashu Trading Enterprise were ordered to repay R1,000,000 and R450,000 respectively. The total amount to be repaid was R2,388,880.
At the time of our going to press, Raphalalani's funeral arrangements had not yet been finalised.