KEY POINTS
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A veteran SANDF corporal was shot multiple times during his morning walk in Lulekani, with ballistic evidence suggesting a targeted hit and robbery ruled out.
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The attack reflects a 2025 trend of off-duty military personnel murders, linked by experts to weapon theft, retaliation, or organized crime in border regions.
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Police pursue suspects in a silver Toyota Corolla, with ballistic matches to prior crimes and community fears mounting over militia activity in the Kruger border zone.
A 54-year-old South African National Defence Force, SANDF, corporal was fatally shot multiple times during his morning commute in Kurhula Section, Lulekani, triggering a manhunt across Limpopo province.
IOL reports that the attack on the SANDF corporal occurred around 5:30 AM on Thursday as the soldier walked toward his base near Hoedspruit, a routine he followed daily through the township’s dimly lit streets.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed officers responded to community alerts of gunfire, discovering the victim unconscious on a gravel roadside. “On arrival, they found the victim lying unconscious and notified emergency personnel,” Ledwaba stated, adding that paramedics declared the SANDF soldier dead at the scene. Five 9mm cartridge casings were recovered nearby, indicating close-range execution.
Notably, the victim’s wallet and cellphones remained untouched, ruling out robbery as a motive.
The soldier’s identity remains confidential pending family notification, though SANDF sources describe him as a decorated logistics specialist with 28 years of service, recently deployed in peacekeeping operations.
Evidence points to targeted hit on the SANDF soldier
Forensic teams have linked the cartridges to unsolved shootings in Mopani District, including last month’s assassination of a municipal official in Phalaborwa. Security analysts highlight rising threats against military personnel: seven SANDF members have been killed off-duty since January 2025, primarily in Gauteng and Limpopo. Professor Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies notes: “Criminals target soldiers for their weapons, uniform access, or retaliation against anti-crime operations.” The Lulekani area, bordering Kruger National Park, faces rampant smuggling and militia activity, with a 22% year-on-year increase in organized crime murders.
SANDF Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya condemned the attack, revealing the victim was weeks away from retirement. “This savagery against those who protect our nation demands maximum consequences,” he declared during a Pretoria press briefing. The killing coincides with scrutiny of SANDF vulnerabilities following recent incidents of soldiers stranded in conflict zones like the DRC. Community activists in Kurhula Section report rising fear, with resident Thandi Nkosi stating: “We heard six shots – soldiers aren’t even safe here.”
Police have established a 10-member task force pursuing two suspects seen fleeing in a silver Toyota Corolla with partial registration NW 347-. Crime intelligence sources suggest possible ties to local firearm trafficking rings exploiting porous park borders. Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has deployed tactical units along the R40 route, while counseling services support the victim’s base colleagues.
