End of the road for wanted crime kingpin?

In what is believed to be one of their major successes, the Levubu police made a big breakthrough last week when they arrested a most-wanted man and alleged notorious crime kingpin, whose presence has been sending shivers through the community since 2006.

The man, who is accredited with a string of serious crimes, including murder, rape, housebreaking, robbery and armed robberies committed in the Levubu, Tiyani and Thohoyandou areas, was arrested in Gauteng last week.

Police spokesperson at Levubu Insp Ntshengedzeni Makondelela said the fugitive, Jeff Maluleke (32) of Tananashishevo in the Nkuzana area, had been positively linked to many crimes committed in this province and also in Gauteng. Makondelela said the man had been on the run since 2006 after allegedly committing murder, attempted murder and robbery in the Mashau area.

It is alleged that on the night of October 16, 2006, at about 00h10, Maluleke went to a house of a well-known mashonisa or moneylender and knocked at his door. The unsuspecting man opened the door, only to be met by bullets. He died on the spot, while his wife was seriously injured. The fugitive allegedly ransacked the house and stole an amount of R5 000 before fleeing the scene.

"We have been looking for this man for a long time and we really commend what community members were doing in intensifying the fight against crime, "said Makondelela. He sent a strong warning to would-be criminals that they have no place to hide here in the new South Africa as they will be hounded everywhere they go. "We are one police service. You might run to Gauteng but our members will hunt you down and bring you to book, "said Makondelela.

Maluleke appeared in the Vuwani Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, charged with, amongst others murder, attempted murder, robbery and armed robberies. No bail was granted and he is scheduled to appear in court again on July 9, pending further investigations.

News - Date: 23 May 2008

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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