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Audited Bureau of Circulation
4 November 2022 Year 33 Vol: 10
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Heroes or villains? By Staff Reporter The arrest of five members linked to the Western Vhukovhela Protection Unit the past week was met with mixed reactions. While some residents in the Sinthumule area describe the group as “crime-fighting soldiers”,
others describe them as common criminals who threaten and assault citizens under the guise of protecting law and order. The suspects, aged between 28 and 38, were arrested during a multidisciplinary intelligence-driven operation by the Vhembe Trio Task team, the
Makhado CI and the Beitbridge Task Team between 26 and 28 October. According to the police’s spokesperson in Limpopo, Lt Col Mamphaswa Seabi, the suspects are linked to a company, Western Vhukovhela Protection Unit, who allegedly assaulted community members with
sjamboks and other objects. One of the members of this group, Dakalo Makhavhu, was apprehended by the Makhado police on 24 October and appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court on 26 October. He is facing charges of kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder. He appeared in court again on Tuesday (1 November). The tactical intelligence-led operation resulted in the arrest of four more suspects in the Tshilwavhusiku policing area. Lt Col Seabi said that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects might be linked to a number of cases, including attempted murder, intimidation, pointing of firearm, kidnapping and the theft of a motor vehicle. The following items were confiscated during the arrest: two sjamboks, three tactical battle jackets, one scuba-diving jacket, two security emergency lights (strobe lights), one base radio, seven hand-held two-way radio receivers, five hand radio chargers, one ink stamp with the security company’s details and numbers, and a Nissan LDV.
Members of Vhukovhela Protection Unit. Dakalo Makhavhu is on the left. Photo: Facebook.
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The four suspects who appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court on 31 October are Sam Makananise, Duncan Madzaga, Mbilaelo Bakali and Rendani Makhavhu. They are facing similar charges as Dakalo Makhavhu, who also appeared in court on 31 October. All five suspects will appear again on 4 November, when they are expected to apply for bail. Some of the charges against the men relate to an alleged assault on well-known businessman and politician Mr Patrick Sikhutshi. Charges of assault were also laid against the suspects by well-known businessman Mr Eric Ramurembiwa, and the owner of a security company and taxi business, Mr Tshianeo Mamphodo. The Provincial Commissioner of the Limpopo Police, Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe, has commended the work done by various police units in tracking and arresting the suspects. The arrests, however, were not celebrated by all sectors of the community. Some called for mass action on social media platforms. On the Evepla platform, the supporters of
Western Vhukovhela Protection were quite vociferous, urging residents “to support your volunteer soldiers who fight against crime in our areas”. They said the unit was alive and “will never die because of stupid hungry stomach politicians who are busy stealing from the poor who are against the safety of our communities”. The militaristic approach of the group, however, does not find favour with residents in the area. Very few were willing to speak out openly against what they described as a very dangerous vigilante group as they feared they would be victimised.
Dakalo Makhavhu was arrested on 24 October.