A 35-year-old security officer, Goden Sicelo Madungandaba, employed at a mine in Burgersfort, appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, on a charge of possession of suspected stolen property after he was found in possession of a drifter machine worth approximately R1.6 million, alleged to have been stolen from his workplace. He was remanded in custody until 30 January 2025 for further investigation.
Madungandaba was apprehended at his rented residence in Tukakgomo, Steelpoort, in the Burgersfort policing area under Sekhukhune District.
He was among 24 suspects arrested during the multidisciplinary Vala Umgodi operation conducted between Monday, 20 January and Tuesday, 21 January 2025, across Limpopo Province.
The operation was a joint effort between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
In other notable successes, the Task Team in Mopani swiftly responded to a complaint of business burglary at a municipal premises in Tzaneen town. This led to the arrest of two male suspects, Wouter Geldenhuys (38) and Johan Du Plessis (45), who were allegedly found dismantling air conditioners inside a municipal storeroom after forcing entry to the premises. The duo was charged with burglary and malicious damage to property and appeared before the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 22 January. They were remanded in custody until 29 January 2025 for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Vala Umgodi Majoc Roving Team arrested an undocumented foreign male for possession of illicit cigarettes worth an estimated street value of R4000, 00 in Musina on 21 January at about 03:00 during a stop-and-search operation. The suspect was seen walking suspiciously with two black bags, and after a search, was found to be in possession of 50 cartons of Remington Gold Blue cigarettes.
Other suspects arrested during the operation face charges related to illegal mining of sand, contravention of the Immigration Act, and possession of illicit cigarettes.
