KEY POINTS
- A domestic worker was arrested as the robbery mastermind.
- Police recovered stolen firearms and foreign currency.
- All suspects face multiple charges, including house robbery.
A 26-year-old domestic worker has been identified as the alleged mastermind behind a brazen house robbery in Aqua Park, Tzaneen, Limpopo.
According to provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the arrest came after an intelligence-driven operation led by the Tzaneen tracking team and detectives.
The robbery occurred in the early hours of March 30, 2025, and targeted a private residence where the domestic worker was employed.
Initially taken into custody on perjury charges, further investigations revealed that she had provided information and access to the robbers. Her arrest marked the first breakthrough in the investigation.
Mashaba said the suspect played a key role in facilitating the crime. “She orchestrated the robbery by supplying information and access to the perpetrators,” he stated.
Foreign currency and firearms recovered during raid
Police arrested two additional suspects at different locations. They apprehended a 39-year-old man at a taxi rank in the Maake policing area.
Police found a large sum of money, including foreign currency, which they believe was stolen during the robbery.
The operation continued with the recovery of a cache of weapons from a residence linked to the suspects. This included two stolen firearms with obliterated serial numbers, as well as pistols, a rifle, a shotgun, and assorted ammunition.
Authorities also seized a third unlicensed firearm, which they did not directly tie to the robbery.
According to IOL, officers made the final arrest in Tzaneen, where they found a 49-year-old suspect with a substantial amount of suspected stolen money, including foreign currency. All three suspects will appear before the Tzaneen and Maake Magistrate’s Courts on Monday.
The two male suspects will face charges of house robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and possession of suspected stolen property. The female suspect is being charged with house robbery and perjury.
Limpopo police praised for swift, coordinated operation
Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the officers involved in the successful investigation and recovery of the stolen goods. “This milestone achievement is a testament to the dedication and investigative expertise of our detectives,” she said.
Hadebe emphasized that the swift and strategic police operation highlighted the importance of intelligence-based law enforcement. She expressed confidence in the force’s ability to continue ensuring safety and justice for communities across the province.
As police investigations continue, law enforcement has reaffirmed its commitment to tracking down all individuals involved in the crime. The recovery of stolen cash, including foreign currency and multiple illegal firearms, marks a breakthrough in combating organized residential crime in the region.
