The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the arrest of the suspects implicated in spiking and murder incidents on the N1 freeway.
The police believe that the arrest of the suspects, will go a long way in solving a number of attacks of the motorists and passengers alike in the province especially on highways.
A number of cases were reported where victims driving along the N1 freeway, in the area Bela Bela and other parts along the N1 had their vehicles damaged as a result of spiking resulting in punctures. When their vehicles came to a standstill, these motorists would be attacked and robbed of their valuables. In another incident, a victim was shot and died on the scene.
The police had been working tirelessly to track and trace these suspects.
Information was received that N1 robbers were arrested at SAPS Brits and Temba in a combined effort between Bela Bela Detectives working jointly with the colleagues from the neighbouring Northwest and Gauteng Provinces.
The robbers, after appearing in court at Temba, were brought to Bela Bela SAPS.
An identification parade was held on 14 November 2024, in which witnesses managed to successfully identify the suspects as those who robbed them.
The suspects were then arrested and charged for cases of armed robbery and murder which happened in June and July 2024:
The following are facing armed robbery that happened in June 2024 Bela Bela:
Alberto Quiton Lucas
Khoza Khumalo
Tsakirai Wedzerai
John Moyo
The following are facing Bela Bela: Murder that happened in July 2024:
Khoza Khumalo
Brighton Zacheche
John Moyo
The accused appeared in Bela Bela Magistrate Court on Friday 15 November 2024, and their cases were postponed to 09 December 2024, for bail application
Police investigations are continuing.