Limpopo cops accused of R950,000 Mpumalanga robbery remanded behind bars
Police-marked vehicles were allegedly used in the Mashishing house robbery, where investigators recovered illicit cigarettes worth R1.5 million, R950,000 in cash, and ammunition.. File Picture:
Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Media
Five suspects — including four Limpopo police officers — arrested in connection with a house robbery in Mashishing (Lydenburg) have appeared in the Mashishing Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga, where their case was postponed to Friday.
The court case was postponed for a bail application and for both the State and defence to finalise the necessary information.
Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli stated that the accused will remain in custody until their next appearance.
The suspects were identified as: Senama Sarafina (35), Huma Malesela Daniel (34), Shogole Lesiba Lucky (41), Ledwaba Macdonald (34), Komane Johannes (29) — a civilian.
The group was arrested last week following a house robbery involving Ethiopian nationals in Mashishing. During the incident, suspects allegedly used police-marked vehicles to carry out the attack. Investigators also recovered illicit cigarettes valued at around R1.5 million, cash estimated at R950,000, and ammunition.
According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), the investigation into the robbery and the involvement of the police officers is ongoing.
In a related development, two Ethiopian nationals linked to the illicit cigarette consignment also appeared in the same court on Monday, 13 October 2025. The Ethiopians were identified as Daniel Anshiso Wikillo, 38, and Temasgen Shagane Aleyo, 33.
They will remain in custody and are expected to appear again on 20 October 2025.
Last week, IOL reported that Limpopo provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe strongly condemned the alleged criminal conduct of the police officers, saying the SAPS has a zero-tolerance stance toward corruption and will allow the law to take its course.
At the time, provincial police spokesperson in Limpopo, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, said the suspects, aged between 29 and 41, were arrested during the night in Lydenburg following a police response to a house robbery in Mashishing. The robbery occurred on Thursday night.
“According to preliminary reports, the victims, all Ethiopian nationals, were asleep when they were ambushed by a group of armed suspects,” Mashaba said.
He said it is reported the suspects used three vehicles: a grey double-cab Toyota bakkie with Limpopo registration plates, a marked SAPS VW Golf GTI belonging to the Polokwane Flying Squad and the third vehicle, believed to be a Suzuki or Avanza, which fled the scene carrying several boxes of suspected illicit cigarettes and an undisclosed amount of cash.
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