Media Statement / South African Police Service / Office of the Provincial Commissioner Limpopo
POLOKWANE – A 22 year-old wanted male suspect has been arrested on Tuesday 21 January 2025, while at his hideout in Olievenhoutbosch, Gauteng province.
Police sought assistance from members of the community in locating and arresting a 22-year-old male suspect, Tebogo “Lepai” Maboa together with four accomplices responsible for the murder of a 59-year-old male victim.
Members of the community reported to the police after seeing the wanted suspect’s photo that was published on the media platforms. Pretoria K9 Unit responded swiftly and managed to apprehend the suspect who was later transported to Limpopo Province.
It is reported that during the month of July 2024, the victim was at his residence in Sebayeng location when he was attacked and strangled to death by five suspects comprising two males and three female suspects.
The suspects allegedly demanded a pay out of lump sum cash amount from the victim who had just received the money following a motor vehicle accident. The deceased seemingly failed to comply and was strangled by the suspects who fled the scene on foot afterward.
A murder case was opened and police commenced with the investigations that subsequently led to the apprehension of four suspects last year December 2024.
A 22 year-old male, Tebogo Maboa popularly known as “Lepai” managed to evade an arrest.
The four suspects consisting of one male Wilson Mashao Malatji (24), Tebatso Mahakwana (23), Flora Mabitsela (39) together with the mother of a 22 year-old suspect, Kate Maboa (41) later appeared before the Mankweng Magistrate’s court on Friday 17 January 2025 facing a charge of murder.
The suspects were remanded in police custody and the matter was postponed until Tuesday 28 January 2025 for formal bail application and further police investigations.
Tebogo “Lepai” Maboa also appeared before Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 23 January 2025 facing a charge of murder. He was remanded in police custody and his case was postponed to the same date to join his fellow co-accused.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has applauded law-abiding citizens who provided valuable information that led to the arrest of a 22 year-old male suspect who was in hiding.
Police investigations are continuing.
Two male suspects were caught red-handed stealing copper cables at a train line just outside Victoria West after police followed up on information.
On Thursday, 23 January 2024, at about 16:00, Victoria West SAPS and Transnet Security operationalised the information and found a group of men stealing copper cables from Transnet lines worth about R150 000-00.
Two of the six males were arrested while the other four fled and are still at large.
The two male suspects aged 35 and 41 will appear in the Victoria West Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of tampering with essential infrastructure.
Media Statement / South African Police Service / Office of the Provincial Commissioner Mpumalanga
NELSPRUIT – The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court sitting in Middelburg has sentenced 37-year-old Lucky Thokozane Nkosi to 32 years’ imprisonment. This follows his conviction on 22 January 2025 for rape, kidnapping, murder, and defeating the ends of justice.
According to information, on 01 October 2023, at around 01:00 am. A 15-year-old victim was at a tavern in Leslie when the accused ambushed her in the restroom and forcefully raped her. He then kidnapped her, taking her to his residence in Leslie, where he further raped her repeatedly throughout the night. The following morning, at around 09:00 am, the victim was released.
The victim reported the matter to Leslie SAPS, and a case with a count of rape and kidnapping was registered. The victim was able to identify the accused.
On 26 December 2023, the accused was seen at another victim’s residence in Extension 9, Leslie. The two later left together. Concerned family members reported the victim missing to the Police on 27 December 2023 after failing to contact her. The victim’s child confirmed seeing the accused leaving with her mother.
Later that day, a passer-by discovered the victim’s body at a bridge in Leslie. The Police were notified and the body was later identified as that of the missing victim.
The post-mortem report revealed the cause of death as ligature strangulation and multiple blunt force injuries.
The Police investigation led officers to the accused’s residence, where bloodstains were found on the mattress. The skilled detectives gathered crucial information at the crime scene as part of their effort of building a strong case against the accused.
The matter was investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit and they worked tirelessly to ensure that justice is served for the two victims.
On 04 January 2024, the accused was arrested for murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Subsequently, the state managed to present strong evidence against the accused and he was found to have been involved in the rape and kidnapping of the first victim, resulting in additional charges being filed on 27 May 2024.
Further investigation by the astute members revealed that the accused had been previously convicted in 2014 and was sentenced then to 10 years’ imprisonment for rape and attempted murder.
On 22 January 2025, the accused pleaded guilty to all charges. The court sentenced him as follows:
•Count 1: Rape – 25 years’ imprisonment
•Count 2: Kidnapping – five years’ imprisonment
•Count 3: Murder – 20 years’ imprisonment
•Count 4: Defeating the ends of justice – three years’ imprisonment
The court ordered that the sentence for Count 2 to run concurrently with that of Count 1. The sentence on Count 3 to run concurrently with Count 4. Additionally, 13 years of the sentence for Count 1 will run concurrently with the sentence for Count 3, resulting in an effective term of 32 years’ imprisonment.
The accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
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