Trio in the dock after fatal shooting of Dudula Movement member

Jane Furse

Three suspects who were arrested for the brutal murder of Operation Dudula Movement member in Jane Furse appeared before the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on Monday 28 August. Their case was postponed and they will be appearing again soon after further police investigations.

The trio, Doctor Anthony Ramaube (22), Oupa Jacob Shai (37) and Nteke Kgothatso Mohlaba (30) where among a group of suspects who attacked Operation Dudula members from Gauteng Province who were about to launch a branch at Jane Furse RDP on 1 October 2022.

During the incident, it is alleged that a group of men armed with firearms, attacked and shot at the bus transporting the members from Gauteng just before the launch can take place at a local sports grounds.

One of the Dudula Movement members was shot and died instantly and following the murder, on Sunday 2 October, the police deployed Public Order Policing Unit (POPS), Tactical Response Team (TRT) and police members from the district to monitor the situation.

Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said a manhunt for the suspects responsible for the murder and malicious damage to property was immediately launched, wherein, three suspects, two males and one female, were arrested in Jane Furse and one of them was fatally wounded after pointing a firearm at the police.

“The police conducted intelligence driven operation in the early hours, where three suspects were arrested in different houses,” he said.

Ledwaba said the police received further information about another suspect who was allegedly threatening the patrons at one of the liquor outlets at the same RDP Section and on arrival, the suspect started running and in the process, he allegedly produced a firearm and aimed at the police who then responded by fatally wounding him.

“The 25-year-old suspect, who was fatally shot by the police, was allegedly found in possession of two loaded pistols and was positively linked to the murder,” he said.

According to Ledwaba, preliminary police investigations indicate that the Dudula Movement members from Gauteng Province, arrived at Jane Furse RDP Sports-ground for the launch of their Movement and also intended to hand over the memorandum to the local police management.

“The group was reportedly travelling in a bus which drove to a demarcated area to collect the female members who were accommodated at different houses at the RDP Section. While on their way back towards the sports ground, their bus was allegedly attacked and damaged by a group of unknown people using stones. The bus was then stopped and some passengers alighted from the bus and ran after the attackers when an unknown member of the community shot one of the members who died instantly,” he said.

Ledwaba said after their arrests, the accused appeared in Nebo Magistrate’s Court on separate dates.

“Ramaube appeared in court on a charge of murder on the 23rd August 2023 and was remanded in custody. The second accused, Shai, appeared before the same court on 24th August 2023 for murder and was also remanded in custody. The third accused, Mohlaba, appeared in court on the 14 June 2023 on charges of murder, robbery, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and was also remanded in custody . The trio appeared again in the same court on Monday, 28 August 2023 for bail application in respect of Shai and Ramaube and their bail application was postponed for further police investigation,” explained Ledwaba.

He said other suspects are still at large and the police are searching for them.

“Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects should contact the Investigating Officer, Constable Tebogo Mulaudzi of Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit on 066 386 2978, the crime stop number 08600 10111, the nearest police station or make use of MySAPSApp,” he said.

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo, hailed the remarkable progress made by a team of investigators as the accused appear in court.

Davis Magologo, Dudula Movement Convener in Limpopo, said they are satisfied with how the police handled the case.