The South African Police Service in Vhulaudzi outside Thohoyandou have offered a massive reward for information that will lead to the capture of a highly wanted murder suspect.
Police have launched a massive manhunt for the 31-year-old murder fugitive Dorobo Rodney Tshivula of Maelula village. He is sought for murder and failing to comply with bail conditions.
"Tshivula was granted bail by the Dzanani Magistrate Court and he was scheduled to appear before the Thohoyandou High Court again on 17 September 2018, but he failed. Soon after that, the manhunt ensued until today with no success," said provincial police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe.
The police are offering a R100 000 reward for information that can lead to Tshivula's re-arrest and subsequent conviction. "The suspect was initially arrested after he was positively linked to the murder of his 29-year-old partner, Suzan Mabala, during an incident that occurred in Phadzima village in 2017. Prior to this incident, Mabala was reported missing by her distraught family on 19 April 2017 and, after weeks of search by the police, her body was found dumped in the nearby bushes, already in a state of decomposition on 13 May 2017," said Ngoepe.
After this shocking discovery, said Ngoepe, members of the community went on a rampage by barricading roads and torching the local Vhulaudzi police station. "This resulted in 21 people being arrested for various charges relating to public violence including arson," said Ngoepe.
Anyone with information that can lead to Tshivula's re-arrest is urged to contact Detective Warrant Officer Rambelani George Mutavhatshindi at 082 702 9890, the crime stop number at 086 001 0111, the SMS Crime Line at 32211 or their nearest police station.