Police in Limpopo have arrested seven men in connection with a mine robbery in Giyani
Image: Supplied/SAPS
Seven men aged between 24 and 44 are expected to appear before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, following a major police breakthrough into a violent mine robbery that left a security guard dead.
The suspects were arrested after police recovered unlicensed firearms, ammunition and items believed to have been stolen during a deadly attack at Hlaneki Mine last month as reported by IOL.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the arrests stem from an incident that took place on Friday, April 24, at around 11 pm, when approximately eight armed suspects allegedly ambushed security guards at the mine in the Giyani policing precinct in Mopani District.
Ledwaba said the suspects robbed the guards of a firearm and two cellular phones during the attack. One of the guards later died from gunshot wounds sustained in the robbery.
“Cases of murder, robbery, and assault were subsequently registered,” Ledwaba said.
The breakthrough came after a multidisciplinary operation involving the Mopani Tracking Team, Highway Patrol, Mopani Infrastructure unit and Mahosi Security.
The guns recovered during the arrests
Image: Supplied/SAPS
Authorities said the operation was intelligence-driven and led officers to a silver Hyundai Staria believed to be linked to the robbery.
The vehicle was intercepted along the R81 road opposite Kremetart in the Giyani central business district on Tuesday afternoon.
“Upon searching the vehicle, police recovered four unlicensed firearms and 95 rounds of live ammunition, including 75 revolver rounds and 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition,” Ledwaba said.
Investigators also recovered two cellular phones that were confirmed to belong to the security officers attacked during the robbery.
Police further revealed that preliminary ballistic testing had linked two of the recovered firearms to separate criminal cases reported in Giyani in April 2026 and in Welkom in August 2025.
All seven suspects are facing charges related to the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property and contravention of immigration laws. Police confirmed that six of the suspects are foreign nationals from Lesotho.
Passports that were discovered when the seven men were arrested
Image: Supplied/SAPS
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe praised the officers involved in the operation and described the arrests as a major step forward in the investigation.
“This arrest marks a significant milestone in ensuring accountability for the brutal robbery. The recovery of firearms and ammunition is critical in preventing further violent crimes and advancing our investigations into related cases,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
Police said investigations are continuing and warned that additional charges, including murder and robbery, are likely to be added as the case develops.
IOL News