Some residents in Elandskraal, Marble Hall are excited at the opening of the upgraded Elandskraal Police Station in Marble Hall, saying it will help bring down incidents of crime in the area. Limpopo Community Safety MEC Makoma Makhurupetje  spoke about crime in the Marble Hall area, saying the new police station will help reduce cases of stock theft and gender-based violence, which are some of the prevalent crimes in the area. One of the residents, Moses Koma says he hopes the police station will employ the youth from surrounding areas for temporary work. Nape Sebeyi says police vehicles should be increased at the police station. Paulina Baloyi hopes incidents of crime will decrease in the area. Copyright © 2022Capricorn FM.All rights reserved Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio A man crosses the Olifants River from Mogalatjane Elandskraal in Limpopo Several people have been attacked by crocodiles while crossing the river Talane Leshaba thought he was going to die when he found himself trapped in the jaws of a crocodile.  He was swimming across the Olifants River, heading home to Mogalatjane village from Elandskraal, when the reptile pounced.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads one of several Limpopo villages on the banks of the Olifants Villagers on the eastern side of the river north of the farming and granite-mining town of Marble Hall access basic services such as social services police station and other amenities in Elandskraal There are no pedestrian bridges over this part of the Olifants A return taxi trip to Elandskraal via the R579 costs up to R50 And with high unemployment and resultant poverty levels crossing it can mean a potentially fatal encounter with a crocodile With the arrival of the rainy season there are fears that rising water levels might see more attacks One of the spots where people cross the Olifants River when travelling between Elandskraal and Mogalatjane in Limpopo “They [the crocodiles] have laid eggs. Goats are disappearing and we are worried,” says Jacob Mammekwa, ward committee member in the Ephraim Mogale local municipality, who has been part of efforts to catch and remove crocodiles.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Leshaba stands on the bank of the river recounting his horrifying encounter: “I just felt something grabbing my arm.” he managed to force the reptile’s jaws slightly ajar The creature let go and slipped beneath the flowing waters Two acquaintances travelling with Leshaba carried him out of the river which he’d put over his head to keep them dry as he swam across the river who was treated for his injuries in Matlala hospital Kolokotela is one of the villages that lie along the Olifants river Some residents believe the name is adapted from the term crocodile because the reptiles have been terrorising people crossing the Olifants River 39-year-old Mavis Mohlala was not as fortunate She was attacked and killed by a crocodile while crossing the river from Kolokotela (a name believed to derive from the word “crocodile”) while on her way to church Mammekwa says more than 10 people have been either killed or mauled by crocodiles in the stretch between the Flag Boshielo dam and villages to the north.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “We are calling on the government to at least build a bridge because, if they do, people will cross without injuries,” he says. “Those who come to the river to fish, it is their own problem, because we told them not to play by the river. But those who cross are innocent people, they need the government, they need our help to have a bridge.”advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The river offers unemployed people a chance to make a living from fishing But the men who sell their catch in the villages have also been terrorised by crocs Wilfred Mudzamatira looks at the spot where he fought a crocodile while submerged underwater for about 10 minutes while fishing in the Olifants River The reptile eventually let go of him but he carries deep scars from that encounter when he felt sharp teeth sink into his flesh “We fought for about eight minutes. I punched it and punched it. Then it made a mistake to open its mouth slightly. That’s how I escaped,” he recalls.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “A crocodile is a very stupid animal,” he says, shaking his head. “It just wants to bite and pull you. It can’t do anything else.”advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Mammekwa rallied the Department of Environmental Affairs to help trap the reptiles But then … other people were coming at night to steal the crocodiles from the traps and sell them to traditional healers,” explains Mammekwa Word got around the region that the carcass of an entire crocodile could fetch over R10,000 The thieves became so brazen they were wading into the river to remove the traps and animals before fleeing Wild animal parts, including those of crocodiles, are used for medicinal purposes by certain traditional healers. It is also believed that the reptile’s brain and bile can make lethal poison.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “We heard they were selling the fat from the crocodiles They were also selling that head for R1,000 We heard the total amount of a crocodile is up to R15,000,” says Mammekwa The project was abandoned prematurely as a result of this activity though no one was arrested for theft or illegal sale of reptiles “We decided to stop the project to avoid further problems,” he says 62 people were killed after consuming beer believed to have been laced with crocodile bile But a leading Zimbabwean pharmacologist who did a study on crocodile bile dismissed the crocodile bile poison as “a rural myth” The human-wildlife conflict is not only restricted to the Elandskraal area and crocodiles crop-damaging elephants and livestock-killing predators The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation – in a report titled Human-Wildlife Conflict in Africa – causes consequences and management strategies – says the crocodile appears to have superseded the hippopotamus as the animal responsible for most deaths on the African continent The 2009 report says crocodile attacks are common because numbers of large crocodiles are high throughout the continent and their distribution range is wide crocodiles can live in close proximity to people without being detected – unlike lion and elephant – and their numbers recover quicker than those of other killers legends and rumours abound in Limpopo – including one about a large crocodile whose body is covered in a binding of chains Fishermen have named this beast – which they claim to have spotted on the river bank – after WWF wrestler John Cena Another story is that the large crocodile population is the fault of a disgruntled white man who when his tourist lodge wasn’t doing too well dumped a large number of reptiles into the river under cover of darkness spokesperson for the Limpopo department of environment and tourism says the provincial government regrets the loss of life in the area But he argues that a growing number of crocodiles is a sign of good environmental management and that communities should respect wildlife habitats “Our community members are not constrained to cross rivers and swamps as there are routes connecting villages Members of the communities are often found neglecting utilisation of availed routes in preference to shorter and life-threatening options,” says Kalla “Community members also unintentionally endanger their lives by swimming crossing and even fishing in very hostile habitats in close proximity to wildlife,” he says Kalla says the department will continue to educate and warn communities about wild animals Lucas Ledwaba is the Editor of Mukurukuru Media ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " A month after she started an outreach project to help youths addicted to nyaope in Elandskraal kick the habit was confronted by drug dealers who demanded that she stop her “nonsense” “I am fighting a serious war here in Elandskraal. They (drug dealers) are fighting me. They said they will do anything to disturb and stop me from carrying out this mission,” a distressed but determined Mahlokwane said.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads kick the habit and upon realising the extent of nyaope addiction in their area Mahlokwane embarked on a project that has put her at loggerheads with peddlers but endeared her to frustrated parents is a highly addictive drug that contains heroin as the main ingredient and other substances including dagga cleaning material and in some instances antiretroviral drugs Phoebe Mahlokwane leads her team in prayer before taking to the streets of Elandskraal Karabo Chauke helps to prepare food to be served to youths addicted to nyaope The drug has been ravaging youths particularly in Gauteng KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town townships but is now creeping into Limpopo’s rural villages Mahlokwane, who is a pastor and has a Bachelor of Arts in community and health psychology works with a team of youths from her church on the project in a bid to save lives.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads beef stew and vegetables to serve addicted youths They set up a table near a popular spot where the youths gather regularly to smoke and buy the drug During the engagement Mahlokwane speaks with the young residents advising them to consider going into rehabilitation to free themselves from addiction She also listens to their concerns and offers advice hence he volunteered to assist in the project “We come early to cook so that we can go and give them food so they can eat I want to see all of [the] addicts changing and stop smoking nyaope I want to see them as people I know and went to school with because that thing (nyaope) Some are no longer staying at home; they are now sleeping at taxi ranks washing taxis to earn little money just to smoke nyaope What we want is to see them quitting the drug be healthy and return home so that their parents can be happy,” said Mothemane Phoebe Mahlokwane uses her own funds and donations from residents to provide meals for youths Leah Aphane seeks helps for her three sons who are all addicted to nyaope.(Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media) Many young people spend their days at illegal gambling dens playing dice and cards to make some form of money have allegedly died due to addiction to nyaope but this could not be confirmed A building that once housed a successful dairy project has been stripped of its zinc roof the local cemetery’s perimeter has been stolen and an old post office building has also been stripped to almost nothing for scrap Mahlokwane said she decided to start the outreach because she was encouraged by how she helped Japhta quit his nine-year addiction “There was no jail or rehab that was able to help him to even remember his identity and to overcome the addiction,” she said She took him to rehab four times and reported him to the police countless times but he always ran away Mahlokwane said she has managed to send 10 young nyaope addicts to rehabilitation centres The perimeter fence around the cemetery in Elandskraal has been stolen allegedly by youths addicted to nyaope Leah Aphane says the situation is so dire in her home they have sold almost everything Japhta recalled his days of being hooked on nyaope you don’t care who you hurt or steal from as long as you get to satisfy your addiction “People did not like me and I was always dirty I remembered how pretty and clean I used to be and was not happy about the life I was living I told myself that if I get a chance to quit nyaope Now I am a normal person living a normal life,” Japhta said His sister is now inspired to help other addicts and their families “I strongly believe that they will recover and experience the joy we felt when my brother came back to his senses,” said Mahlokwane Parents of addicted children have been visiting her often to ask for her intervention But those who sell the drug are not so happy They are known in the community and their activities do not appear at all secret “They warned me and my team to leave the spot where the outreach is carried out But I told them that I am not going anywhere as the owner gave us permission to use it as much as we want to,” said Mahlokwane She said she did not report the incident to the police as she wants peace and does not want to disturb the progress of the youths “as they are coming along alright”.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Japhta Mahlokwane was addicted to nyaope but managed to kick the habit The old post office building in Elandskraal allegedly by local youth addicted to nyaope But Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo warned that “they must inform the police because prevention is better than cure” “Remember our primary responsibility is to prevent crime before it gets committed and it’s cheaper to do so are needed to track down the culprit,” he said Mahlokwane said the biggest challenge the outreach is facing She says the community has written off the addicted youths and it is difficult for addicts to trust anyone who wants to help them Mahlokwane said when she first approached drug users with the idea for the outreach many feared it was a ploy to get them arrested or lynched by the community said Kgontse has been troubling his neighbours and the family Last year he was almost set alight by a mob of enraged community members for stealing A building that used to house a successful dairy project in Elandskraal has been stripped of its roof by addicts.(Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media) In 2015 the family booked him into a private rehabilitation centre where he spent 11 months at a cost of R12,000 “I don’t believe that he wants to change because when he is home he does not talk about that at all but I am willing to support him if he wants to go to rehab,” she said Kgontse together with his friend Rushon Mogudi “I want to quit nyaope and prove people in this community wrong because they say I will never change I want to have a good relationship with my family as they don’t want and trust me anymore,” said Kgontse Limpopo spokesperson of the Department of Social Development Witness Tiva said they are funding 27 non-profit organisations that are running preventative programmes across the province to curb the usage of drugs “It is also important to note that no person can be forced to seek help The need to seek help must be voluntary as the person with the addiction will need to work with various programmes to rehabilitate and recover,” said Tiva Mahlokwane hopes that she will reach her goal of establishing her own rehabilitation centre to help youths from Elandskraal and beyond overcome their addiction Lovemore Musoyi-Image Source@Crimewatchzim The South African Police Service has launched a manhunt for a Zimbabwean suspect who is on the loose after escaping arrest Musoyi is implicated in over ten criminal activities ranging from murder and attempted murder to armed and house robberies and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition Musoyi’s criminal activities span several areas and Rakgoadi within the Sekhukhune District ALSO READ: Harare City Council Officials Arrested For Giving Moses Mpofu A US$9 Million Street Lights Tender One notable incident occurred on June 20th at approximately 7:45 PM executed a bold robbery at a tuck shop in Mafisheng village accusing him of betrayal and attacking him with an axe making off with money and soft drinks before escaping Musoyi managed to escape from a police vehicle at Moutse Mall in Dennilton while being transported to Witbank Correctional Services He was not alone in this escape; two other suspects also fled Musoyi was involved in a confrontation at his ex-girlfriend’s home he shot his ex-girlfriend’s brother in the mouth and fled with a television set ALSO READ: Themba Gorimbo Apologises To Winky D In A Heartfelt Message Limpopo’s Provincial Police Commissioner has directed a specialized team of investigators to intensify their search for Musoyi Community members are urged to assist in the manhunt by providing any information that could lead to his arrest and subsequent prosecution “Anyone with information regarding Lovemore Musoyi’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact Lieutenant Colonel Boshomane at 079 894 5501 or use the My SAPS App,” the police urged Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2023 iHarare - All Rights Reserved © 2023 iHarare - All Rights Reserved SAPeople.com is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd Reproduction without permission prohibited Home » Farm torched after owner allegedly murders theft accused suspect Police have launched a manhunt for suspects responsible for torching a farm that belongs to a business woman in Elandskraal FARM ALLEGEDLY TORCHED IN LIMPOPO South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in Limpopo Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said according to an incident report South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in Limpopo a section of the community at Elandskraal in Morarela village went on a rampage and set alight a farm owned by the woman Ledwaba said the attack happened a day after the farm owner her son and two relatives allegedly kidnapped a 35-year-old man and killed him while injuring his friend The two were accused of stealing the goats “The farm owner and her family were arrested on the spot kidnapping and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm,” the police spokesperson said ALSO READ: Would a Commission of Inquiry help solve farm murders in SA? The fire reportedly damaged the farm fence The total value of the damaged properties is not yet known Police  were summoned to the scene  and members of the community upon noticing the Police Manhunt for  the suspects was immediately activated ALSO READ: Young Roetdan farmer shot dead, girlfriend cable tied during robbery Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said people should refrain from actions that may lead them into police cells they should learn to  trust police capabilities as they are well trained to deal with crime related problems Anyone with information that can assist the Police to arrest the suspects involved has been urged to contact the Acting Station Commander Warrant Officer Victor Aphane at 0824690745 or report to the Crime Stop number 0860010111 alternatively report to the nearest Police Station or share the information on MySAPS App ALSO READ: Limpopo farmer shoots black couple after he ‘mistook’ them for hippos The May 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants may face delays this week due to targeted verification procedures currently underway by the agency Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi insists that taking a strong position on illegal immigration should not be misinterpreted or misrepresented South Africans could soon apply for passports and smart ID cards directly through their banking apps Kelly Smith’s mother has publicly criticised her daughter for failing to reveal the whereabouts of her missing granddaughter Cape Town residents in certain areas should brace for a 12-hour water outage on Wednesday as the City carries out essential maintenance work The proposed ceasefire remains uncertain as South Africa pushes for peace talks and Ukraine dismisses Russia’s offer