Four SAPS officers from Limpopo and a civilian face charges after a house robbery in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga.
Police caught the suspects in the early hours of Friday, 10 October 2025. Officers had responded quickly to reports of a robbery at a house in Mashishing late on Thursday night.
The victims, Ethiopian nationals, were asleep when armed men stormed their home. The suspects attacked them and stole cash and goods.
SAPS OFFICERS ARRESTED AFTER MIDNIGHT RAID
The group used three vehicles, a grey Toyota double cab, a private car, and a marked SAPS VW Golf GTI. The police car belonged to the Polokwane Flying Squad.
One private vehicle escaped with several boxes of suspected illicit cigarettes and a large amount of cash. However, police later seized the marked SAPS vehicle and the Toyota bakkie at the scene.
Three male SAPS officers, one female officer, and a 29-year-old civilian were taken into custody. They all serve in different Limpopo SAPS units.
R1.5 MILLION IN CIGARETTES AND CASH FOUND
Investigators discovered boxes of illicit cigarettes worth about R1.5 million and R950,000 in cash at the scene. They also recovered ammunition during the search. An undisclosed amount of cash was found hidden in one of the confiscated bullet proof vests.
Meanwhile, police noticed that the suspects had covered number plates with black sellotape to hide their identities.
Two of the arrested SAPS officers still carried their official firearms. Police confiscated both weapons immediately.
‘NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW’
All five suspects remain behind bars and will appear in the Mashishing Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 13 October 2025 as the Hawks continue to lead the investigation.
Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the swift arrests. “No one is above the law. We will not tolerate any criminality within our ranks,” he said.
Major General Dr Mkhwanazi further stated that the arrests prove SAPS’s firm stance on accountability and urged the public to report misconduct.
