After a spate of housebreakings and house robberies in and around Malamulele area in the past few weeks, the police and members of the community joined hands and arrested 10 suspects allegedly responsible for crimes committed in the area.

Police spokesperson Lt-Col Ronel Otto said residents of villages in the Malamulele area were hard hit by criminals: "During February, suspects entered homes any time of the day or night and robbed people of their household goods. Police and community members joined hands and together they increased visibility and patrols in the affected areas. They also followed up on information received from the community and this resulted in the arrest of four suspects, who have already been linked to more than 10 incidents of house robbery in the Malamule area," said Otto.

The suspects, Russel Baloyi (22), Tlangelani Chauke (22), Justice Sithole (22) and Mishack Shivambu (31), have already appeared in court twice. They are still in custody as bail had not been granted to them.

During the last weekend, more information was followed up and six more suspects were arrested for theft, housebreaking and house robberies. These suspects were found to be operating in the Malamulele and Thohoyandou areas, allegedly terrorising local villagers.

The suspects, Mike Ndou (22) from Dulubazimu (Zimbabwe), presently residing at Tambaulate, Happy Rwadza (19), from Maszwingo ( Zimbabwe ), presently residing at Dididi, a 16-year-old  minor from Tambaulate, Khathutshelo Ndou (18) from Tambaulate, Mabulannga Ramudzuli from Tambaulate and Victor Makamu (30) from Tambaulate all appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Stolen goods to the value of thousands of rand, as well as an unlicensed 9mm pistol, were recovered during the arrests.

The provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lt Gen Simon Mpembe, applauded the good co-operation between the police and the public in their efforts to make their own communities a safer place.