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7 December 2012
Bulletin
www.bulletin.us.com
Bolobedu fiend caught The community of Bolobedu can finally sleep peacefully after two months of being terrorised by a gang of criminals. Through the efforts of the Trio crime prevention unit and underground detectives, the gang leader, Matome Simon Mainetja (25), was arrested on Sunday in Marumeleng. The Tzaneen Cluster commander, Maj Gen Maggy Mathebula, said the gang has been terrorising Kgapane, Sekgopo, Modjadjiskloof, Rapitsi, Bolobedu and Haenertsburg. She explained that during Mainetja’s arrest police recovered ten cell phones, a monitor, akeyboard, a CPU, jewellery, a pair of Carvela shoes, electric appliances and two firearms. The two firearms are believed to have been stolen from a traffic officer and a police officer. Mainetja’s other accomplices were arrested in different places. Two were arrested in Bolobedu but are linked with Maake cases and four were arrested in Haenertsburg. Mathebula expressed her gratitude towards the support given by the Bolobedu community and the efforts by the police to arrest the “Bolobedu fiend”. Mainetja and his gang are accused of rape, housebreaking, attempted murder, theft and robbery. In one of the rape cases he allegedly raped a woman in front of her husband at their house. He appeared before the Bolobedu magistrate court and was denied bail. He will appear again next Friday. The police are still searching for two more suspects, Peter and Maopela, who are believed to be armed.
Not to be missed
CRIME SCENE
On Tuesday children will be able to enjoy displays by die fire department, SAPS and Tzaneen Ambulance Services, at the first Youth Against Crime children’s day at the Tzaneen show grounds, from 09:00. It will be free of charge and children of all ages are welcome to join in the fun.
Each child will be tagged with an ID-bracelet and then taken by bus to the fire station, for a real -life demonstration. Back at the show grounds, the SAPS tactical and dog units will demonstrate their skills. Tzaneen Ambulance Services will be celebrating their second birthday with a waterslide and face painting for the children. Each child will receive a food parcel, but should bring sun block and swim costumes. Letaba Alarms and the department of social development will take care of the children’s safety. Enquiries: Romé Malan on 072 360 9601.
BY: Martina Jege Seen with some of the goods recovered during the arrest of the “Bolobedu fiend” is Col Matome Sekhwela, Maj Gen Maggy Mathebula and Capt Alex Mahlakwane.
Arrested Three housebreaking syndicates were arrested by the Letsitele police. The groups allegedly robbed a supermarket at Mavele in N’wamitwa last week Wednesday. The Tzaneen Cluster spokesman, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said the three men broke into the supermarket through the roof. They stole groceries, cosmetics and cigarettes but the goods were recovered during the arrest. Meanwhile 28 people were arrested du-ring the weekend: one person was arrested for shoplifting, two for assault GBH, one for intimidation, six for illegal gambling, one for possession of dagga, one for road traffic act, twelve for liquor act, one for urinating in public and one for malicious damage to property.
No mercy for criminals; police hit hard and often During a special operation two suspects (aged 28 and 45) were arrested by the Politsi-K9 Dog Unit at Maake, after they had been found in possession of four bags of dagga. According to Tzaneen Police Cluster spokesman, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, the 45 year-old, man was a wanted suspect after he had run away from an accident scene in Magoebaskloof a month ago. Both the suspects will appear in the Naphuno magistrate’s court on a charge of possession of dagga and the 45 year-old man will appear in the Haenertsburg magistrate’s court on another charge of possession of dagga and the violation of the road traffic act (as he ran away after an accident without
reporting it to the police). Ngoepe said investigations are still continuing. Meanwhile the Tzaneen Cluster Commander, Maj Gen Maggy Mathebula, has praised the family violence and child protection unit and the detectives for their achievements in arresting four rapists and two murderers, who received heavy jail terms. Matome Jeoffrey Rabothta (20) from Motupa, Bolobedu, was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 28 year-old woman, ten years for attempting to rape an 18 year-old female and also ten years for raping a 19 year-old female. Ntakaneng John Mametja (22) from Mamaila, Bolobedu, was sentenced to life in prison for raping a 32 year-old in 2011. Mametja found the woman collecting fire-wood in the bush and raped her. Ngoako Marobela (24) from Matshilapata, Maake, was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping a 17 year-old girl. Selepe Isaac Lekukela (20) was sentenced to six months in prison or R1 500 for theft and Adolph Peter Nkgapele (26) and Kgomotso Ranaga (22) from Relela village were sentenced to twenty years in prison each for killing Thabo Sydney Mohale (29) on 26 February 2012.