by Mahlatse Phaladi | Dec 3, 2020
Six people have died in a multi-vehicle accident involving a truck and five sedans in Mokopane, Limpopo.
The accident occurred at the corner of Thabo Mbeki and Retief streets in the Mokopane CBD last night.
It is alleged that the truck driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into five vehicles in front him, before ramming into a nearby building.
The vehicles caught fire after the impact.
During the incident, four pedestrians were knocked and killed.
The truck driver and a passenger were burnt to death.
One driver was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, has sent messages of condolences to the families of people who were killed in the accident.
The MEC is worried about the increasing number of fatal crashes in the province.
She has urged motorists to be cautious on the road and always drive within the set speed limits.
A week ago, nine people died in various accidents in the province.
Four of the fatalities occurred in Vhembe, Sekhukhune and Waterberg districts.
by Mahlatse Phaladi | Oct 19, 2020
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Denilton, Limpopo, have launched a manhunt after a 57-year- old Colonel Lebyane Seroka was gunned down on Saturday.
Colonel Seroka was a Station Commander at Groblersdal Police Station.
He was shot and killed by unknown assailants in front of his house at Mmaganagobuswa village.
According to the police report, the suspects took the victims motor vehicle, a white Toyota Hillux and fled the scene.
The vehicle was later discovered, abandoned along the Denilton-Maklerekeng road.
The police preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased woke up early in the morning and prepared to attend a funeral. He was gunned downafter he went outside to open a gate.
A motive for the killing is not yet known.
by Mahlatse Phaladi | Oct 17, 2020
Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has condemned the attack on a 41-year-old paramedic.
Sidwell Maluleka was allegedly beaten and pepper sprayed while he was transporting patients from Musina to Tshilidzini and Elim hospitals, respectively.
The incident transpired at the Baobab Tollgate between Makhado and Musina on Thursday.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says the paramedic was trying to warn a motorist who wanted to carelessly overtake him about an oncoming vehicle, but the driver ignored his signals and proceeded to overtake.
“When both vehicles reached a local filling station, the driver of the other vehicle allegedly insulted the paramedic. A heated argument then ensued. The suspect went to his vehicle and came back with a pepper spray. He allegedly sprayed it in the paramedic’s eyes, then drove away from the scene” says Mojapelo.
Majapelo says the Musina police have opened a case of assault.
MEC Ramathuba says her department is disappointed by the disrespect shown to the official and patients.
“Attacking a government official on duty is equal to attacking the state. We therefore call upon anyone who might have witnessed the ordeal to come forward as this might help bring the culprit to book” she adds.
by Mahlatse Phaladi | Oct 17, 2020
Members of the Limpopo Provincial Organised Crime, Air-wing and Tactical Response Team (TRT) have arrested 16 suspects for illegal mining.
The arrests were made during an intelligence-led joint operation in the Driekop policing area, outside Bugersfort.
The police pounced on the suspects after receiving a tip-off about a group of suspects allegedly mining chrome illegally in the Driekop area.
Items worth R10 million were confiscated during the operation. They include three excavators, a Nissan NP200 bakkie; seven spades and five hammers.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Neke Ledwaba has commended the police for acting swiftly to arrest the suspects.
The 16 men will appear before the Praktiseer Magistrate’s Court soon as police investigations continue.
According to independent investigative researcher and technical adviser on illicit artisanal mining, Alan Martin, about 30 000 illegal miners work in and around thousands of disused and active mines across South Africa.
In an ISS Today article published in 2019, Martin says the illegal miners, widely known as Zama Zamas, are organised by criminal syndicates, and cause considerable financial losses and security headaches to established, publicly listed companies.
At least R21 billion in sales, taxes and royalties are estimated to be lost through illegal mining annually.
by Mahlatse Phaladi | Oct 15, 2020
The residents of Skrilek in Ward 4, outside Bela-Bela in the Limpopo province, say they are forced to live like pigs during the raining seasons.
They say the water stench outside their home takes weeks to evaporate and makes life unbearable.
“During the rainy season, the water starts to flow directly into our homes, it is smelly, and it brings with it mosquitoes. It’s really annoying,” ne of the residents Local Voices’ contributor Mahlatse Phaladi said.
Residents say they first lodged a complaint about the situation in 2005 to then Mayor, Henrietta Ledwaba, but nothing has been done about it.
“We (also) spoke to our current Mayor Cllr.Jeremiah Ngobeni and our Ward Councilor about the situation when it is raining, but it has been 15-years now without a solution. Since they have been promising to come and do a pavement and some drainage to direct the water flow, but nothing is happening, we are afraid our houses might be affected.”
The residents vowed to take their grievances to Premier Stanely Mathabatha’s doorstep, if the local Mayor does not intervene soon. – Report by Mahlatse Phaladi @Guru_Mahlatse
by Mahlatse Phaladi | Oct 15, 2020
The Limpopo Division of the High Court has delivered hefty sentences for the two of the five accused in the murder of a 57-year-old farm owner, Hedrick Peterson.
Phuti Phineas Molongoane (39) was sentenced to life in prison and 15 years for housebreaking with an intent to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances yesterday.
He was further sentenced to 5 years for the possession of an illegal firearm. Both sentences will run concurrently.
His co-accused Thapelo Nickel Motsamai (25) was sentenced to 15 years in jail for housebreaking with an intent to commit robbery and aggravating circumstances. His sentences will also run concurrently.
Three other suspects in the matter will learn their fate today.
The five men attacked and severely injured Peterson on his farm in Afuguns, outside Lephalale, in 2017.
The victim was severely assaulted with various objects and was later discovered and rushed to hospital by a relative, where he was certified dead upon arrival.
His assailants took Peterson’s two riffles, cellphones and other valuables and then fled the scene in his white Isuzu bakkie.
The police immediately launched a manhunt and the suspects were arrested months later. – Report by Mahlatse Phaladi @Guru_Mahlatse
