Gunmen Target Businesspeople In Mogoditshane

Pini Bothoko | Monday March 4, 2019 13:56

 

Of recent, there have been multiple shootings in Mogoditshane and Metsimotlhabe where people were robbed at gunpoint. It appears that the culprit(s) target and attack businesspeople who they follow to their homes at night where they fire warning shots and demand money. Mogoditshane police station commander, Superintendent Russ Letsebe said looking at the modus operandi of the perpetrator(s), it appears that a syndicate or one person is involved. Letsebe said the trend started last week when a bar owner of Metsimotlhabe was followed to his house after closing the drinking spot by thugs who robbed him of money amounting to P20, 000 and then fled the scene just after midnight.

The police chief said it appeared like the gunman had followed the bar owner who stays a few metres away from the bar to this house and attacked him in his house, demanding money.

Letsebe said after entering the house, the intruder took out the gun and started shooting and instructing the bar owner to give him the money, collected it and fled the scene. Luckily, no one was injured.

In a similar incident on Saturday,  a gunman attacked a diesel depot at Nkoyaphiri location in Mogoditshane, fired three shoots and made away with P4,000. Letsebe said the incident occurred at around 8pm and no one was hurt although three shots were fired.

“It looks like he found the depot still open, attacked and took out a pistol firing three shoots demanding money. Those who were on duty followed his instructions and gave him the money. He fled the scene without any injuries,” added Letsebe.

He said investigations were ongoing to locate and arrest the culprit(s) pleading with members of the public especially businesspeople to be on the look out as the dangerous armed offender is on the loose.

Letsebe pleaded with the business community to avoid having large sums of money in their homes and consider depositing their cash at the end of business. Meanwhile, the police added that they were investigating a drowning case in which a 30-year-old man lost his life after drowning in a pool while swimming at Big Five Lodge on Saturday around 8pm.

He said the deceased was in company of his sister swimming having fun when he meet his fate.

Asked if the duo’s entertaining included alcohol Letsebe could not dispute nor agree stating that investigations on the matter are ongoing and hard to comment of that issue especially that he lost his life.

Letsebe pleaded with members of the community to avoid swimming without lifeguards or someone familiar with water.