The Levubu police have arrested three suspects who had allegedly been terrorising the Levubu community and the surrounding villages, stealing copper cables.
The suspects, Fhatuwani Makumbani (18), Rabelani Ramuatho (19) and Israel Raphalalani (24) were arrested at the Tshakhuma fruit market last Tuesday. They were found in possession of two bags full of copper cables.
All three are residents of Tshisaulu village outside Thohoyandou.
The Levubu police spokesperson, W/O Solly Mukhola, said that the police had received a tip-off from members of the community about the three suspects. "Members of our highway patrol team followed the suspects, who then got onto a taxi that was coming from Thohoyandou's direction to Tshakhuma," he said.
He added that the police followed a taxi that stopped at the Tshakhuma fruit market, where they searched it and found suspected stolen copper cables. "The suspects were still on board and were arrested immediately," he said.
Mukhola said that a case of possession of stolen property (copper cables) had been opened with the police. "Our investigations are still continuing," he added.
The suspects appeared in the Vuwani Magistrate's Court last Wednesday and the case was postponed to 28 March. The three remain in custody.
Mukhola praised the members of the community for their continuous and good working relationship with the police.