Nine ATM bombing suspects arrested in Limpopo

Limpopo police have arrested nine suspects who are believed to be part of a syndicate responsible for a series of ATM bombings that have terrorized the province between 2023 and 2024.

On Friday, a group of armed men allegedly attacked a fuel station in Morudji Village, Bolobedu, holding employees at gunpoint before bombing the ATM. No money was taken as the ATMs were empty.

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The following day at approximately 04:00 AM, the same group targeted another ATM in Giyani where they stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

While fleeing, the suspects encountered police, resulting in a shootout. The suspects abandoned one of their getaway vehicles, a silver sedan, before escaping on foot. Police confiscated the vehicle as evidence.

In the early hours of Sunday, 09 March 2025, acting on intelligence, operational teams tracked the suspects travelling from Giyani to Gauteng. The teams intercepted two vehicles—a white sedan with four occupants and a maroon sedan with five occupants on the R81 highway near Mall of the North in Polokwane. During the search of the vehicles, officers recovered: Explosives found in both cars, two illegal firearms with 33 live rounds of ammunition and dye-stained cash, suspected to be proceeds from the ATM bombings. The two vehicles were also confiscated.

LIMPOPO ATM BOMBINGS SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN POLOKWANE

The arrested suspects, aged between 28 and 43, consist of four South African nationals and five foreign nationals who are illegal in the country.

The suspects face multiple charges, including Possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of illegal explosives, possession of dye-stained money and contravention of the Immigration Act [for five undocumented foreign nationals]. They will soon appear before various Magistrate’s Courts in the province.

Limpopo Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the swift response of the police teams and their collaborative efforts in bringing the criminals to justice.

“The suspects thought they could evade justice. But our dedicated teams remained relentless in their pursuit,” she said.