Manhunt for 4 house-robbers 

Lephalale – A joint team of detectives from the Limpopo SAPS provincial office and Waterberg District is working around the clock to track down and arrest the remaining four suspects involved in the house robbery at Lephalale mayor Jack Maseko’s home on Sunday 14 February. 

“Two people have already been arrested,” police spokesperson colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said.  A Mozambican national, allegedly part of the gang involved in the robbery, Portia Kgama (34), appeared before the Phalala Magistrates’ Court on Friday 9 April after she was arrested in Gauteng. She was remanded in custody and appeared in court again on Wednesday 21 April for a bail application.
 
Joao Antonio Lucas, the second suspect that was arrested, was denied bail during his first appearance in court. His case was postponed to Monday 31 May. Lucas has been linked to similar offences and is expected to appear in several other magistrate courts in KwaZulu-Natal.
 
Colonel Ngoepe summarised the case: “It is alleged that four unknown armed men, accompanied by two women, arrived in three vehicles. They stopped at the gate of the mayor’s house and asked the security guard to see the mayor. Before the guard could respond, they assaulted and overpowered him, entered the house, and tied everybody up before they ransacked the house.”

The suspects stole a Toyota Legend 45 and fled the scene. The car was later found abandoned along Lebu road in the Tomburke policing area outside Lephalale. The security guard sustained serious injuries. 

Anyone with information that can lead to their arrest is requested to contact colonel Malesela Mogale on 071 479 2329, the Crime Stop Number 08600 10111 or visit your nearest police station.