Malamulele police station robbery: Ten men face trial for robbing cops, stealing firearms
The Malamulele police station, where officers were overpowered and firearms stolen during a 2021 robbery. Ten men accused of the crime will stand trial in the Polokwane High Court next week.
Image: SAPS
The trial of 10 men accused of storming the Malamulele police station and stealing firearms before allegedly embarking on a violent crime spree across Limpopo and Mpumalanga is set to begin in the Polokwane High Court next week.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the men face a total of 94 charges, including robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, conspiracy to commit robbery, and possession of explosives.
The accused – Fokisi Godfrey Mabunda, 40; Tshepho Mamila Masha, 23; Gardon Tumpi Makutu, 51; Desmond Teleki Phala, 35; Lucas Kotoane Mahabane, 42; Tebogo Frederick Ramalatso, 42; Nicholas Maharaji Manzini, 35; Tshepiso Matemana, 31; and Lesley Dimakatso Leshabane, 40 – allegedly overpowered police officers at the Malamulele police station between 2021 and 2022, stealing firearms kept in the station’s safe.
NPA regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said that after the robbery, the group allegedly used the stolen firearms to carry out a series of armed robberies targeting petrol stations, hardware stores, restaurants, and motorists across various towns, including Malamulele, Giyani, Sekgosese, Bolobedu, Waterval, Mokwakwaila, Botlokwa, Bandelierkop, and Bushbuckridge.
“During these robberies, the suspects allegedly stole cash, cellphones, and jewellery while threatening victims with the stolen firearms. They were later arrested on 18 January 2022 and found in possession of several firearms and ammunition,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.
Ballistics tests later confirmed that the recovered firearms were linked to cartridges found at several crime scenes.
The case, which has been delayed by forensic investigations and legal processes, is expected to run for about three weeks, beginning on 3 November 2025.
The Malamulele police station robbery sent shockwaves through Limpopo at the time, raising concerns about police safety and the security of weapons kept in police stations.
The accused remain in custody.
In November 2021, IOL reported that police officers at the Malamulele police station in Limpopo were bundled into a van while the station was robbed of rifles, pistols and ammunition.
At the time, national police spokesperson, Colonel Athlenda Mathe said acting national commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Franscinah Vuma, had directed the provincial commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, to implement the 72-hour activation plan following the attack on the Malamulele police station.
She said at around midnight on a Sunday, a group of armed suspects stormed the Malamulele police station and held officers at gunpoint in the community service centre of the police station.
“Some members were forced into the back of a police van while one member was ordered to unlock the safe where the suspects took R5 rifles, 9mm pistols, shotguns and an undisclosed number of ammunition,” said Mathe.
After robbing the police station, the daring assailants proceeded to a local food outlet and a filling station, where they robbed the businesses of an undisclosed amount of cash.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News