Limpopo Police Chief, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has commended the actions of Hoedspruit Farmwatch for their role in a deadly confrontation with cash-in-transit robbers in Limpopo.
The incident, which occurred last Wednesday, resulted in the deaths of four robbers.
The confrontation happened after four armed robbers allegedly carried out a cash-in-transit heist, during which they also reportedly killed a security guard in Hoedspruit.
According to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the Limpopo police spokesperson, the suspects attacked and robbed a cash-in-transit security vehicle, taking an undisclosed amount of money.
They then fled the scene in three vehicles: a white Toyota Fortuner, a white Ford Focus, and a white Toyota Hilux.
Tragically, one of the security guards was fatally shot and disarmed during the heist.
In response to the incident, both the local police and the Hoedspruit Farmwatch organization were alerted.
The suspects were later spotted on the road to Hoedspruit, and law enforcement officers attempted to stop them.
However, the suspects opened fire on the pursuing team, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
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In the aftermath of the confrontation, four suspects were fatally wounded, one was injured and subsequently arrested, while others managed to escape capture by fleeing into nearby bushes, according to Ledwaba.
Following their escape, the fugitives’ respite was brief, as they were apprehended the following day, Thursday, September 21st.
This arrest was the result of an extensive search operation involving Hoedspruit Farmwatch, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, and aerial support from a helicopter.
Among those arrested was a highly sought-after Mozambican suspect who had been on the run for some time, linked to a series of crimes in the Free State province in 2022, including the brutal killing of a police officer from the elite Tactical Response Team.
During the arrests, the alleged robbers were found in possession of suspected stolen money, a rifle, and a pistol.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, expressed her gratitude for the collaborative efforts of both the police and Hoedspruit Farmwatch.
She praised the meticulous work of all involved in the suspects’ apprehension and emphasized her commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the dedicated teamwork demonstrated by all parties involved in the arrest of these suspects. We are immensely grateful for the unwavering support we receive from our stakeholders, who share our commitment to upholding law and order in the province,” Hadebe stated.
She also paid tribute to the G4S guard who lost his life during the robbery, promising continued efforts to create a safer province in collaboration with local communities.
“We will persistently patrol our streets alongside our communities, working together to establish a safer province that we all aspire to live in,” Hadebe affirmed.
