Arrests made in the murder of SAMWU members

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo has managed to make strides, managing to finally arrest suspects in connection to the murder of two South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) members in Thohoyandou during January 2019. The suspects are expected to appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 6 April 2021.

Tshimagadzo Timson Musetsho, a 50 year-old man, was shot while parking his car at his home in Makwarela location and later died in hospital. Six days later, Ronald Mani also aged 50 at the time, was shot dead at a bottle store.

According to the SAPS in Limpopo, the provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba appointed a high level team of investigators to look into both incidents involving the SAMWU members.

The suspects, who are believed to be brothers, were charged following extensive investigations into both of them.

“The suspects, aged 26 and 33, whom are said to be brothers from Makwarela location, were initially arrested by the Tzaneen Tracking Team at Rwanda village under Letsitele policing area outside Tzaneen for possession of firearms and ammunition on Friday 19 March 2021 at about 15:00,” said SAPS Limpopo spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.

“The team that was following the suspects’ tracks, immediately took control of their custody and commenced with the process of linking them to the other crimes under investigation”

SAMWU murder: A two-year crime spring crimes to an end for Limpopo brothers

The suspects in the SAMWU murders, believed to be brothers, were initially handcuffed outside Tzaneen for possession of firearms and ammunition on Friday. However they have been linked to several crimes some dating back to 2018 – including murder, robbery, theft and kidnapping.

They have been linked to the following crimes:

• Murder and robbery at FNB in Thohoyandou in 2018
• Two counts of murder at Mandala village, Siloam in 2019.
• Robbery and attempted murder at Game, Thohoyandou in 2020.
• House robbery at Muledane location, Thohoyandou in 2020.
• Robbery and kidnapping at Mukula, Thohoyandou in 2020.
• Robbery at Sibasa in 2020.
• Theft of motor vehicle at Makwarela, Thohoyandou in 2020.
• Robbery and kidnapping at Tshilivhani, Thohoyandou in 2020.
• Robbery and kidnapping at Phiphidi, Thohoyandou in 2020.
• Murder at Phiphidi plantation, Thohoyandou in Nov. 2020.
• Intimidation at Sibasa Advark Shop, Thohoyandou in Jan. 2021.
• Robbery and attempted murder in Giyani in March 2021.
• 2x Possession of illegal firearms and ammunition at Rwanda village in Letsitele in March 2021

SAMWU had long called for swift action by authorities in bringing those responsible, to book.