Zimoja brings you the most current updates on crime and court news nationwide.

FREE STATE: A 34-year-old foreign national man suspected of being the mastermind behind ATM bombings and robberies in Limpopo was a arrested through a joint police operation by the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit, Provincial Flying Squad, SAPS Ladybrand and Vusela Risk security 

The suspect was apprehended on Sunday,11 August 2024, in the Ladybrand policing area of the Free State province and made his first appearance at the Seshego Magistrate?s Court today.

The arrest follows an investigation into a string of ATM bombings and robberies that terrorised businesses between January 2022 and May 2023. 

Twelve suspects were previously arrested, but the alleged kingpin evaded capture until now. He will join his accomplices for a pre-trial hearing at the Regional Court on 15 August.

FREE STATE: The Welkom Anti-Gang Unit received information from residents about suspects terrorising them by robbing them off their cellphones at gunpoint at night in the K6 section of Kutloanong. 

While on the looking for the suspects, police found three suspects, aged 20, 27 and 31 years old, busy processing gold-bearing material. 

They found three plastic bags of gold bearing material and one cold drink cap with gold material.

Thereafter, members proceeded with the initial information about the robbers and two suspects were found with two cellphones robbed from different victims, a KWC 9mm pistol with a serial number still visible and one magazine. The suspects failed to furnish the police with documents to be in possession of cellphones or the firearm. The suspects will appear in the Odendaalsrus Magistrate?s court 

LIMPOPO: A 40-year-old man made his first appearance at the Mahwelereng Magistrate?s Court on Tuesday, facing a charge of murder.

He was arrested for allegedly hacking a 74-year-old woman to death on Sunday afternoon in Mahwelereng Zone, Limpopo.

The police said they were informed by a concerned neighbour, who was alerted by the commotion next-door ,and rushed to the house to assist but found the old woman lying outside the house, bound with a rope and with multiple stab wounds.

Upon the gruesome discovery the neighbour immediately contacted the police and emergency services and on their arrival, paramedics certified the 74-year-old victim dead at the scene.The police said investigations are ongoing to uncover the circumstances surrounding the gruesome incident.

GAUTENG: A mob justice incident in Soweto has claimed the lives of two men who were set alight at a recycling site in Motsoaledi Informal settlement in Diepkloof Zone 6. A police van was passing by when It was stopped by community members who alerted them of a vigilante attack. Police said by the time they got to the scene they found two men set alight and both were already burnt beyond recognition. It is understood that the the two deceased were allegedly involved in the shooting of two Lesotho nationals at a tavern.

Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the suspects involved in the brutal murder.