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The Citizen
12-07-2025
- The Citizen
‘We are not safe': Tzaneen residents accuse police of failing to act on GBVF crisis
Residents are angry after a toddler was raped in Lusaka Village, near Nkowankowa. Residents of Nkowankowa and the surrounding areas in Tzaneen, Limpopo, are furious and calling on the police to work closely with locals to fight against gender-based violence and Femicide(GBVF). Several community members who spoke to The Citizen said they were angered by a recent incident in which a toddler was raped in Lusaka Village near Nkowankowa. Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the suspect sneaked into the room where the baby was sleeping with her mother and took her to the house's passage, where he raped her. 'The mother heard the child crying and found her on the ground,' said Mashaba. He stated that the police were still searching for the suspect, and no arrest had been reported at that time. Living in fear Elizabeth Shingange, a community leader and founder of the Elizabeth Home Foundation, said women and children were being killed and abused in the areas around Tzaneen. She said that between April and May, six women were murdered in different areas. 'Look, currently there is an ongoing case whereby a man is facing more than 80 rape cases. This case indicates that this man was continuing with his action without any interruption because if he was arrested for some of the cases, he would not be facing so many charges.' 'The criminals know very well that they will not be arrested because the community members don't trust the police. Previously, we had a situation in which the police failed to protect the whistleblowers, so they are afraid to tell the police what they know.' Shingange has urged the provincial police management to talk with the communities about how they can work together to address the problem. Another resident who asked not to be named said, 'What I can tell you is that we are not safe because criminals are not being arrested.' ALSO READ: Eswatini man arrested after child's burnt body found Protest ANC Women's League members took to the streets of Tzaneen on Friday in protest, accusing the police of failing to fight against GBVF cases that are rife in the area. Limpopo police did not respond to claims that they were failing to address GBVF and crime in the affected areas. WATCH: The ANC Women's League protest 'We are here to submit a memorandum to the Tzaneen Magistrate's Office, which is receiving on behalf of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. 'This memo is presented due to the alarming increase of the scourge of Gender-Based Violence against Women and Children, which is perpetuated by men in our society. 'These men perpetuate this GBV with impunity without dire consequences, and, as women, we are looking to our justice cluster to rescue us from this barbaric behaviour. 'Our observation is that the law enforcement agencies seem to be overwhelmed in dealing with this situation,' ANCWL convenor of Norman Mashabane Region in Mopani District Municipality, Lettie Hlangwane, told The Citizen. NOW READ: 'No moral standing': Saps must act tough on GBVF officers
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- The Citizen
Stolen Pretoria vehicle recovered in Limpopo before crossing border
A luxury SUV valued at over R2.5-million, which was stolen in Brooklyn, was recently retrieved, travelling towards the Beitbridge border. An anti-smuggling operation conducted by the Limpopo provincial police saw officers recovering the SUV along the N1 highway near Polokwane on July 2. It was a collaborative effort comprising different stakeholders, including the Limpopo SAPS, Shadow Secure Security, Tshimollo Security and Investigations, and Tracker Connect. According to Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, police acted on intelligence regarding a stolen vehicle travelling from Gauteng towards the Beitbridge border. He said the recovered vehicle matched the description of a vehicle stolen in Pretoria. 'The vehicle matching the description, a white Nissan Patrol V8 5.6, was identified and intercepted near Shell Ultra City within the Westernburg policing area. Further investigation confirmed the vehicle had been stolen in Brooklyn, Pretoria,' Mashaba said. He said the police acted swiftly and arrested the suspect driving the vehicle. 'A 51-year-old Zimbabwean who was behind the wheel was arrested on the spot and charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.' Mashaba said the suspect appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on July 4. Provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the swift recovery of the vehicle and hailed the collaboration that made it possible. ALSO READ: Tshwane slaps 713 properties with penalty rates over illegal land use Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
04-07-2025
- IOL News
Zimbabwean man arrested while driving stolen R2. 5 million Nissan Patrol towards Beitbridge
A 51-year-old Zimbabwean national will on Friday appear in a Limpopo after he was arrested while driving a stolen V8 Nissan Patrol 5.6 worth R2.5 million towards the Beitbridge port of entry. Image: SAPS Police in Limpopo have intercepted and recovered a high-performance luxury sport utility vehicle, valued at over R2.5 million, during a targeted anti-smuggling operation. The anti-crime blitz was conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo in collaboration with private security partners along the N1 highway near Polokwane on Wednesday. 'Acting on intelligence regarding a stolen vehicle travelling from Gauteng towards the Beitbridge border, the operational team consisting of Limpopo SAPS, ShadowSecure Security, Tshimollo Security and Investigations, and Tracker Connect kept strategic observation along the N1 route,' said Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba. The vehicle matching the description, a white Nissan Patrol V8 5.6, was identified and intercepted near Shell Ultra City within the Westernburg policing area. Mashaba said further investigations confirmed that the vehicle had been stolen in Brooklyn, Pretoria. 'A 51-year-old Zimbabwean national, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested on the spot and charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Zimbabwean man is scheduled to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Friday. Meanwhile, provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has commended the swift recovery of the luxurious vehicle, and hailed the collaboration that made it possible. A 51-year-old Zimbabwean national will on Friday appear in a Limpopo after he was arrested while driving a stolen V8 Nissan Patrol 5.6 worth R2.5 million towards the Beitbridge port of entry. Image: SAPS In May, IOL reported that a 31-year-old man, Mikael Mlambo, appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court in Limpopo after he was arrested when police intercepted a stolen Toyota Corolla Cross sport utility vehicle which was being driven towards the Beitbridge port of entry. At the time, Mashaba said the matter was postponed to allow for the profiling of the arrested man. He said police had established that Mlambo is a South African national. Earlier, IOL reported that the grey SUV that was driven by Mlambo in Limpopo was reported stolen in May, around Pretoria central. 'On Friday, 16 May 2025, members of provincial Flying Squad were busy conducting routine patrol duties when they received intelligence information about a grey Toyota Corolla Cross SUV vehicle that was reported stolen this month,' said Mashaba. 'The vehicle was allegedly travelling at high speed along the N1 South public road and was destined to be smuggled to Zimbabwe.' Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. The police immediately commenced an intensive search for the stolen vehicle until it was positively spotted driving outside Polokwane. Police officers attempted to stop the speeding vehicle, but the driver refused to yield. 'A car chase ensued until the vehicle was intercepted at Nirvana robots. It was searched and police suddenly discovered a damaged tracking device removed from the vehicle,' said Mashaba. Police said Mlambo could not produce authentic documentation proving ownership, and he was immediately placed under arrest. He was charged for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. IOL News
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Giyani protest turns violent as police shoot demonstrator
LIMPOPO – A peaceful protest turned violent last Monday morning when police allegedly shot and wounded a man and assaulted and arrested a woman at the Kremetart Gate in Giyani. The protest was sparked by allegations of corruption in a development project currently underway in Ward 21. The Department of Cooperative Government, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) is involved in a project to establish a new settlement in Giyani town called Giyani H, which stretches from the 'Welcome to Giyani' area near Kremetart and extends toward an area known as E-Moyeni, towards Ngove village. The project, which is said to cost around R500 million, is currently installing a bulk water pipeline on the site in preparation for the upcoming development. The problem began when the original Project Steering Committee (PSC), which had been in place since January this year, was dismissed via SMS after just five months on the job. The community reportedly approached the Greater Giyani Municipality (GGM) for clarity, and when they received no assistance, they turned to CoGHSTA and the Office of the Premier. It was only after these efforts failed that they resorted to protest in an attempt to force the government to listen to them. During their protest, the police apparently arrived and shot at them, wounding one person in the leg. This infuriated the community even more, accusing the police of firing live bullets at the crowd. 'We want the premier to know that here in Giyani, we have police officers behaving like criminals. 'They shot two people for no apparent reason; their only crime was barricading the road,' said Steven Maringa, the chairperson of the concerned group. 'We want those responsible to be held accountable and removed from their positions,' he went on, blasting the ANC government for allowing the police to be rude at what they call a peaceful protest. 'The ANC is the majority party in this province, but if it allows the police to intimidate people by shooting them, then we are clearly under the wrong kind of government,' he said. Meanwhile, the police denied using live ammunition against the protesters. Responding to the allegations, Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said that although live bullets were not used, the matter would be investigated to establish the circumstances that led to the shooting. 'According to our information, a man was shot with a rubber bullet and taken to Nkhensani Hospital in Giyani. It is alleged that the incident occurred while he was barricading the road, and the police were in the process of dispersing the crowd,' he said. Meanwhile, the protesters eventually calmed down and proceeded to the project site to deliver their memorandum. Among their demands is the immediate suspension of the project and the reinstatement of the original Project Steering Committee (PSC). They are also calling for the premier's intervention. Additionally, they demand the removal of unintended beneficiaries, specifically Wards 10 and 26, which they claim were not part of the project's original scope. They also want the project site relocated to Kremetart, where it was originally intended to be hosted. 'That location does not require monthly rent. We do not understand why the office was moved to a site where it pays rent when we had a free site in Kremetart. We believe someone is personally benefitting from the current arrangement, and we want to help the government save money,' said Maringa during the handing over of the memorandum to the premier's representative, Emanuel Moletji. 'The project was initially intended to benefit the communities of Kremetart, Dzingidzingi, and Ngove. However, Kremetart and Dzingidzingi have since been removed, leaving only Ngove as a beneficiary,' added Maringa, criticising the Giyani Municipality for failing to respond when the issue was brought to their attention. 'We are here today because of the incompetence of the municipality; it couldn't handle the situation before it got out of hand,' he said. In response, Moletji said the issue of PSC was something that was handled by the local municipalities, insinuating that the matter shouldn't have reached their offices. 'The reason we have ward councillors and ward committees is that they spend more time with you as residents of a municipality or village. The Office of the Premier or CoGHSTA cannot come here to implement a project and appoint people you don't know. The premier has representatives in the form of local government and municipalities whose responsibility is to listen to our needs,' he continued, saying he would personally take the memorandum to the premier so that she could convene a meeting with the community to understand the matter. When asked about the way forward regarding the matter, GGM spokesperson Steve Mavunda said the municipality would await the directive from CoGHSTA as the matter was complex and required several stakeholders. 'We have seen the memorandum and are currently awaiting a directive from the office of CoGHSTA on how to act on the matter, as the situation is complex and requires the involvement of the municipality, CoGHSTA, and several stakeholders,' he said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
28-05-2025
- IOL News
‘Arrested girls lied about their ages': Police say suspects with stolen Toyota Hilux are minors
Police in Limpopo arrested two teenage girls for possession of a stolen Toyota Hilux GD-6 in Limpopo, while a third occupant of the vehicle escaped on foot. IOL has withheld the names and pictures of the teenagers are withheld to protect the minors' identities. Image: File/SAPS Police in Limpopo have established that two suspects who were arrested and charged for possession of a stolen Toyota Hilux bakkie are minors, who must be charged under the Child Justice Act. On Tuesday, IOL reported that provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the two young women who are in police custody were aged 19 and 20. However, on Wednesday night, Mashaba told IOL that after the story was published, parents of the arrested came forward with birth certificates proving that the two are girls aged 15 and 16. 'On the two ladies, further investigation has revealed that they gave incorrect ages during the arrest. After their families saw their pictures on a released media statement, they came forward and the birth certificates show they are minors aged 15 and 16,' said Mashaba. 'They were supposed to be charged under the Child Justice Act. They will now be placed in a place of safety, while they remain in police custody.' Mashaba said the date for the girls to return to court will be announced in due course. 'I'm still waiting for the remand date,' he said. IOL has withheld the names and pictures of the arrested teenagers, to protect the identity of the children. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Last week, IOL reported that provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the vehicle was intended to be driven across the Beitbridge port of entry into neighbouring Zimbabwe on 18 May 2025. 'In a coordinated anti-smuggling operation involving SAPS Anti-Smuggling Team, Tshimollo Security and Investigation, and Reflex Anti-Hijacking Security, the officers intercepted a Toyota Hilux GD-6 double cab on the R101 near Polokwane weighbridge,' said Mashaba after the arrest of the duo. 'During the stop, one male suspect fled into nearby bushes, while two female suspects attempted to escape but were apprehended after a foot chase,' said Mashaba. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Preliminary police investigations have so far revealed that the Toyota Hilux GD-6 was stolen on Friday, 16 May 2025, around Garsfontein in Pretoria East. On Monday, IOL reported that the Polokwane Magistrate's Court has remanded 43-year-old Zimbabwean national Mhlalisi Moyo in custody after he was arrested in Limpopo for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. Zimbabwean man, Mhlalisi Moyo, was remanded in custody by the Polokwane Magistrate's Court after he was arrested for possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle, a Toyota RAV4. Image: SAPS Mashaba said Moyo appeared in court on Friday, and his case was postponed to Thursday, 29 May for formal bail application. Last week, Mashaba said Moyo was arrested during a joint operation comprising the SAPS anti-smuggling task team, Tshimollo Security and Investigation, Reflex Anti-hijacking Security, and Tracker SA. 'The Toyota RAV4 was intercepted at approximately 8 pm (on Wednesday) near Shell Ultra City in Polokwane on the N1 highway,' said Mashaba IOL News
