A 42-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a violent taxi hijacking and robbery that occurred in the Mutale policing precinct on 2 October 2024. The suspect, along with three accomplices, allegedly hijacked a Toyota Quantum, robbing passengers of their belongings. During the incident, a member of the local neighbourhood watch was shot at Tswera Bridge.
Following the hijacking, the stolen vehicle was abandoned at the Vhurivhuri-Golwe picnic campsite entrance. Two other suspects, aged 35 and 41, were arrested shortly after in Tshandama village, located in the Makuya precinct. However, two of the assailants managed to escape capture at the time.
On 4 November 2024, police received a tip-off regarding the whereabouts of the 42-year-old suspect. Acting on this information, an intelligence-led operation was launched by Thohoyandou police, in collaboration with the Tactical Response Team (TRT), targeting Tshiulungoma village. The operation successfully resulted in the suspect’s arrest.
The suspect is also believed to be involved in other criminal activities, including an attempted murder in Makuya and a house robbery at Ha-Tshifura village, both of which took place in October 2024.
The suspect will soon appear before the Makuya Regional Court, and police investigations into the case are ongoing.
