POLICE SAYS THEY HAVE ARRESTED SUSPECT FOR MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AT SEDAWA VILLAGE

SEDAWA VILLAGE : Police in Hoedspruit under the Mopani District sayd they have arrested a 36-year-old suspect in connection with a case of malicious damage to property committed at Sedawa Village in the early hours of Friday, 22 May 2026.

The information received from the police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the suspect is expected to appear before the Hoedspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 25 May 2026 on a charge of malicious damage to property.

Ledwaba says the arrest follows an incident that occurred on Wednesday, 30 April 2026 at about 18h45, when angry community members allegedly mobilised and attacked the house of a local Induna at Sedawa Village.

The police report indicates that tensions within the community escalated following the disappearance of a one-year-and-nine-month-old boy child, Loyte Kahlodi Pako (Mokibelo) who allegedly disappeared on Friday, 02 April 2026.

Meanwhile, police are also continuing with the search for another missing person, Kgashane Shai, aged 26, who was last seen on Sunday, 05 April 2026 at about 23h00 while talking on the phone in his room at Sedawa Village.

According to the family, Kgashane, who is mentally challenged, has not been seen or heard from since that night.

Community members further alleged that during a soccer match, Kgashane indicated that he knew who had taken the missing child, and he allegedly disappeared later that same night.

According to information received, community members accused the complainant of being involved in the disappearance of the two missing persons. Earlier searches conducted by police, community members and Search and Rescue teams, including K9 search operations, yielded no success.

On 30 April 2026, community members embarked on a march and handed over a memorandum to local authorities, police and traditional leaders demanding intensified efforts in locating the two missing persons.

Later that evening, a group of community members allegedly set the complainant’s house alight. Household items including a fridge, stove, queen-sized bed, wardrobe and other belongings worth an estimated R60 000.00 were damaged during the incident.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has urged community members to refrain from acts of vigilantism and allow police investigations to take their course.

Anyone with information that may assist in locating the missing persons is requested to contact the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Venetia Masingi, on 082 040 6751, Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or alternatively use the MySAPS App.

The police investigations are ongoing.