The Police at Ha-Makuya are appealing to people who might have fallen victim to or lost property in theft in the Makuya area, to come forward and to help identify the items.

They are also requesting any person who might have information about criminal cases committed in the area to come forth with the information that could help them in their investigations.

This follows the recent arrest of an alleged notorious criminal in the area. The Makuya police and the surrounding communities are now sighing with relief after the arrest of this notorious alleged thief in the area.

Acting on a tip off, police followed leads and arrested the man at his home at Ha-Tshikundamalema. The 30-year-old Edwin Risimati, who is alleged to have terrorised the Makuya community for a long time, was arrested last week. He is now facing various charges, including rape, house robberiy and eight counts of housebreaking with the intent to steal.

He appeared at the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Thursday. The case was postponed, pending further police investigations.

Goods, which include clothing, TV sets, keyboards, DVD-players, CDs, and a chainsaw, to the value of about R100 000, were recovered during the arrest.

It is alleged the cases were committed from July 2012 until February 2013.

In the rape cases, victims who are mostly women between 35 and 50 years of age were allegedly attacked while collecting firewood in nearby bushes. They were threatened with sharp objects before being raped.

People with information can contact D/W/O Shumani Rammbuda at 082 414 5654 and 015 957 9203.