Four Limpopo police officers charged with armed robbery

Zuko Komisa

Four off-duty Limpopo police officers and a civilian were arrested after allegedly using SAPS vehicles to rob Ethiopian nationals in Mpumalanga.
The suspects are accused of stealing R950,000 in cash and R1.5 million worth of illicit cigarettes in a major internal corruption case.
All five accused appeared in court on house robbery charges and were remanded in custody.

Four off-duty Limpopo police constables and sergeants have been arrested alongside a civilian following a daring house robbery in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, where they allegedly stole R950,000 in cash and illicit cigarettes valued at £66,000 (R1.5 million) from Ethiopian nationals.

The officers, attached to various units including the Polokwane 10111 Flying Squad and Mahwelereng K9, reportedly used their positions and SAPS vehicles to carry out the crime. Authorities confirmed the officers had no operational authorisation for a deployment in Mpumalanga.

The group used a marked SAPS Golf GTI, a Toyota double cab van, and a third vehicle. Both police vehicles had been tampered with, featuring number plates altered with black tape.

During the investigation, police recovered the majority of the stolen cash and the R66,000 worth of illicit tobacco. The two service firearms belonging to the officers were also confiscated, and the police vehicles were seized as evidence.

The suspects—Sergeant Lesiba Lucky Shogole, Constables Malesela Daniel Huma, Thapelo Mcdonald Ledwaba, and Nthabiseng Sarafina Senama—appeared at the Mashishing Magistrate’s Court on charges including house robbery and possession of illicit goods.

All accused were remanded in custody, with the case postponed until 17 October 2025. The arrests are understood to be part of a wider police crackdown on internal corruption and misconduct within the South African Police Service (SAPS).