Office building and vehicles worth R2m burnt by unknown assailants
POLICE in Bolobedu, Limpopo, have launched a huge manhunt for unknown suspects who burnt an office building and vehicles that were in the premises in Kgapane location.
Spokesperson for the police in Limpopo, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the property destroyed was worth more than R2 million.
“According to information, a 32-year-old security officer was on duty at the premises when he noticed the fire in the yard. He went to investigate and realised that the office buildings were on fire, with the vehicles parked in the yard,” Ledwaba said.
Ledwaba said the incident happened on Saturday, just after midnight.
“The incident was immediately reported to the police and members of the emergency fire brigade who managed to extinguish the fire.”
Police said the motive of the incident is currently unknown. They have opened a case of malicious damage to property.
“Anyone with information that can assist the police with the apprehension of the unknown suspects is urged to contact branch commander Lieutenant-Colonel Marius Botha on 082 469 2937, Crime Stop 08600 10111, the nearest police station or the MySAPS App,” the police said.
Last year, a 37-year-old woman, believed to be a loan shark (mashonisa), was brutally killed and her property was destroyed at Salema village in Limpopo’s Saselamani policing precinct.
At the time, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the woman was killed at around 10pm.
“The police received a complaint about a vigilante incident in which a mob intended to burn the house of a 37-year-old woman believed to be a money lender. The police rushed to the scene and discovered that the mob had tied the victim to her motor vehicle and dragged her to the bushes.”
The mob then started throwing stones at police officers who were searching for the woman.
“The crowd was dispersed with the use of rubber bullets, and police managed to rescue the victim.”