Polokwane – Police on Sunday shot dead a suspect and arrested three others – one of them a woman – in connection with an attack that left one member of “Operation Dudula Movement” dead.
During the attack on Saturday, the bus carrying members of Dudula, whose publicly stated objective is to rid South Africa of undocumented foreign nationals, was stoned until it came to a stop.
When some brave members tried to chase the stone throwers a shot was fired.
A Dudula member was hit by the bullet, and he died on the spot.
The deadly shooting occurred at the RDP Section of Jane Furse – a town in the Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo – on Saturday (1 October 2022).
On Sunday, police said one suspect was shot dead and three others aged between 25 and 26 were arrested in an early morning swoop in Jane Furse.
Narrating events leading up to the shooting, the police said their preliminary investigations indicate that the Dudula members from Gauteng arrived by bus at Jane Furse RDP Sports-ground on Saturday.
The Dudula members were in the area to launch a branch of their movement and had intended to hand over a memorandum of demands to the local police management.
The bus that brought Dudula members from Gauteng also collected local female members from different houses in the RDP Section.
On their way towards the sports ground, the bus came under attack from stone-throwing individuals.
When the bus stopped, some passengers alighted and ran after the attackers.
A shot was fired and one of the Dudula members was fatally hit.
“The incident led to the cancellation of planned activities in the area and resulted in members of the Public Order Policing Unit, Tactical Response Team and police members from the district being deployed to monitor the situation,” the police said.
“A manhunt for the suspects responsible for the murder and malicious damage to property was immediately launched.
“In the early hours of this morning at about 05h00, the police conducted an intelligence driven operation three suspects – two males and one female – were arrested at different houses.”
The police said they received further information about another suspect who was allegedly threatening the patrons at one of the liquor outlets at the same RDP section.
“On arrival, the suspect started running and in the process, he allegedly produced a firearm and aimed at the police who then responded by fatally wounding him,” the police said.
The police said they recovered two loaded pistols that have since been positively linked to the murder.
Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the police for arresting the suspects.
General Hadebe urged community members to assist the police with information regarding any other suspects in the matter.
Earlier reports suggested that a gang known as “Thobejane” which is believed to be made up of Zimbabwean nationals was involved in the attack.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Investigation Officer Detective Sergeant Mamaiti Fossi Mamaile on 082 297 1778 or crime stop number 0860010111 or nearest police station or MySAPSApp.
Police said investigations are continuing.
Although the Dudula deceased member has not been named by authorities a message of condolence on social media carried a picture that was said to be the victim of the shooting.
