The Levubu police have arrested the most wanted, feared and notorious gang leader, Mabidi Ligaraba (27), who  had allegedly been terrorising the Tshakhuma community.

It was reported that Ligaraba had been assaulting them, breaking into their houses and taking their belongings by force. The police, who had been looking for him for some time, arrested him at Tshakhuma last week.

The residents, who had threatened to take the law into their own hands if Ligaraba was not arrested, held several community meetings to try and solve the crime problem in the area.

Ligaraba is now facing two counts of rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and common robbery. Confirming Ligaraba's arrest, Levubu police spokesperson W/O Solly Mukhola said that the police were told that other members of the community were afraid to open cases, fearing that they might be victimised.

"The residents are encouraged to come forward and lay charges if something had happened to them," he said. He added that those affected should feel free to open cases with the police.

It is believed that the group of gangsters which Ligaraba led is comprised of nine men from Muledane, Tshakhuma, and the Tshisahulu villages.

Ligaraba briefly appeared in the Vuwani Magistrate's Court last Tuesday and the case was postponed for further investigations.