Limpopo police kill wanted criminals in shoot-out | Review

LIMPOPO – The provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the police for successfully recovering stolen firearms, including a rifle, linked to serious and violent crimes in the Capricorn and Sekhukhune districts.

This breakthrough follows a shoot-out between the police and two of Limpopo’s most wanted criminals on Tuesday (February 25) in Ga-Mampuru, Burgersfort.

The suspects, who had been terrorising the community, opened fire when confronted by law enforcement. Police returned fire, fatally wounding both suspects.

A multi-disciplinary police team, including members from the Provincial Tracking Team, Provincial Investigations Unit, Polokwane TRT, Masemola K9 Unit, Polokwane Air Wing, Lebowakgomo Detectives, and the Lebowakgomo Task Team, acted on intelligence that the suspects were hiding in the bushes near the R555 in Ga-Mampuru.

When officers approached, the suspects opened fire.

In the exchange of gunfire, one suspect was shot and killed. He was found in possession of a pistol with six rounds of ammunition. His identity remains unknown, but he is believed to be between 30 and 35 years old.

His accomplice managed to flee with a rifle but was pursued by the police. During the chase, he also fired shots at officers.

Police retaliated, fatally wounding him. He was found in possession of an R5 rifle with three rounds of ammunition, a 9mm pistol with three rounds, and 12 cellphones suspected to be stolen.

Investigations confirmed that one of the suspects was a fugitive who had escaped from the Lebowakgomo Magistrate’s Court on 17 March 2023, where he had been facing multiple charges, including rape, housebreaking, and robbery.

The duo was linked to over 10 serious crimes across Lebowakgomo, Magatle, Sekhukhune, and Mankweng, including the murder of a Limpopo Highway Patrol sergeant, during which three rifles were stolen. Other charges against them include rape, murder, house robbery, and kidnapping.

Following the shoot-out, paramedics were called to the scene, where both suspects were declared dead.

Hadebe praised the community for assisting in the investigation.

“We appreciate the public’s cooperation in providing crucial information that led to the successful tracking and apprehension of these dangerous criminals,” she said.