Malamulele Police Station Robbery
By Mpho Moloi
In a case that shocked Limpopo and raised alarms about police station security, ten men accused of storming the Malamulele police station in 2021, overpowering officers, and stealing firearms will finally face trial next week. The Polokwane High Court hearing, starting on 3 November 2025, will tackle 94 serious charges linked to the robbery and a string of armed crimes across Limpopo and Mpumalanga. This long-delayed trial highlights ongoing issues with gun thefts from police and the bold tactics of criminal gangs, as ballistics tie the stolen weapons to multiple attacks. With the accused still in custody, the case is expected to run for three weeks, bringing closure to victims and testing South Africa’s justice system on handling such brazen acts.
The Daring Midnight Raid on Malamulele Police Station
The nightmare began around midnight on 21 November 2021, when a group of heavily armed men burst into the Malamulele police station’s community service centre in Vhembe District, Limpopo. They caught the officers off guard, holding them at gunpoint and forcing some into the back of a police van. One officer was ordered to unlock the safe, allowing the robbers to grab R5 rifles, 9mm pistols, shotguns, and an undisclosed amount of ammunition. The gang locked the gate behind them as they fled, leaving the station in chaos.
No shots were fired at the station, and no officers were hurt, but the incident sent shockwaves through the community and police ranks. At the time, acting national commissioner Lieutenant General Franscinah Vuma ordered a 72-hour activation plan to hunt down the suspects, with Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe leading the charge. This robbery was part of a worrying trend of attacks on police stations in South Africa, where criminals target firearms to fuel further crimes.
The Accused: Faces Behind the Alleged Gang
The ten men facing trial are Fokisi Godfrey Mabunda (40), Tshepho Mamila Masha (23), Gardon Tumpi Makutu (51, also known as Tumbu Gadron Makutu), Desmond Teleki Phala (35), Lucas Kotoane Mahabane (42), Tebogo Frederick Ramalatso (42), Nicholas Maharaji Manzini (35), Tshepiso Matemana (31), Lesley Dimakatso Leshabane (40), and Sello Simon Sedi (42). They stand accused of a web of crimes that started with the station heist and spiralled into violence.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed the group faces 94 counts, including robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, conspiracy to commit robbery, and possession of explosives. Some, like Mabunda, Makutu, and Sedi, appeared in court early on, with the full group linked through evidence. All remain behind bars as the trial looms.
The Violent Crime Spree: Robberies, Shootings, and ATM Bombings
After the station raid, the gang did not stop. They allegedly hit nearby spots right away, robbing a local KFC, SASOL garage, Wisani filling station in Malamulele, and Viva garage at Njakanjaka in Bungeni, taking cash while threatening staff with the stolen guns.
The spree spread across Limpopo and into Mpumalanga between 2021 and 2022, targeting petrol stations, hardware stores, restaurants, and motorists in towns like Giyani, Sekgosese, Bolobedu, Waterval, Mokwakwaila, Botlokwa, Bandelierkop, and Bushbuckridge. They stole cash, cellphones, and jewellery, often using violence. Reports link them to ATM bombings, carjackings, and shootings, including one at a filling station near Capricorn toll gate where a police warrant officer was wounded. In Bolobedu, they bombed a safe at SI hardware and shot at people at Malamulele traffic circle.
Ballistics tests proved crucial, matching recovered firearms to crime scenes. When arrested, police found four R5 rifles, four pump-action shotguns, and other items stolen from the station.
Arrests and the Long Road to Trial
The breakthrough came on 18 January 2022, when police swooped on the suspects, recovering several firearms and ammo tied to the crimes. Two more were nabbed in July 2022, rounding out the group. The NPA added charges as links to more incidents emerged, building a strong case through forensics and witness accounts.
The trial faced delays due to complex investigations and legal steps, with postponements noted in September 2024 to May 2025. But the latest update sets it for 3 November 2025, expected to last three weeks. The case first appeared in Malamulele Magistrate’s Court, with some accused remanded early on.
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