Business robberies mar Dennilton

DENNILTON – The provincial commissioner of South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, ordered police to track down and trace male suspects involved in recent spate of business robberies in Sekhukhune district.

General Thembi Hadebe has directed the police to work around the clock to apprehend suspects involved in a series of business robberies that happened in Dennilton within the district. 

Her reaction was prompted by three business robbery incidents that took place at separate Filling Stations in Dennilton policing area on Monday, 29 April 2024.

According to police report, the cashier at a Filling Station in Moutsiya Mall was on duty together with her colleagues when two unknown bakkies arrived and stopped next to the main entrance of the premises at about 04:45.

“One of the bakkies was loaded with approximately six male suspects in possession of firearms.  Two suspects suddenly entered the kiosk shop and threatened the cashier with firearms and demanded a drop safe. Fearing for her life, she complied and revealed the location of the drop safe. The suspects allegedly forced the cashiers to vacate and join the customers who were ordered to lie down on the pavement and they suddenly heard a sound of a bomb detonated while a security guard was inside the kiosk shop. Afterward, the suspects ordered the male customers to assist in carrying the drop safe to the bakkie and immediately sped off from the  scene with an undisclosed amount of cash that was contained inside,” explained Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, Limpopo Provincial Police spokesperson. 

During the business robbery, multiple shots were fired by the suspects and nobody sustained any injuries but the security guard was transported to a local clinic for medical treatment after he was severely affected by the bomb smoke during the incident.

Furthermore, five unknown male suspects committed another business robbery at a filling station on the same day at about 02:35 in Five Morgan Section under Dennilton policing precinct.

Mashaba elaborated, “An employee at the Filling Station was busy in the cash office when she saw five male suspects next to a cash office window. The suspects were wearing balaclavas, masks, coats, overalls and jackets when they knocked at the cash office window with a firearm. They ordered an employee to open the cash office while in possession of firearms. The suspects entered the office and requested the location of the safe. It was pointed out and everyone was ordered to leave the premise and lay on the ground. Later on, they heard a loud sound of explosives and the suspects pulled the drop safe to an unknown motor vehicle. Afterwards, multiple shots were fired by the suspects before fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.”

Anyone with information that can assist with the nabbing of the unknown suspects should contact the Investigating Officer Captain Simon Nkadimeng on 0795241351, crime stop number 0860010111, the nearest police station or send information through MySAPSApp.