A dramatic scene unfolded at Moletlane Plaza in the early hours of Wednesday, 2 August 2023, when a group of heavily armed suspects bombed two ATMs, prompting a massive manhunt by the SAPS Provincial Organised Crime Unit.
Moletlane Plaza ATM bombing: Here’s everything we know
In a statement, Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba revealed that, at approximately 02:00, a 49-year-old security guard was on duty at Moletlane Plaza when he spotted a group of armed suspects.
Sensing danger, the security guard managed to evade the robbers and seek safety. While in hiding, he heard the sound of explosions as the suspects blasted two ATMs at the scene.
The brazen criminals quickly fled the area in an unknown vehicle, making off with an undisclosed amount of money.
As soon as the incident was reported, the police responded promptly and opened two counts of malicious damage to property and two counts of business robbery.
The SAPS Provincial Organised Crime Unit immediately initiated a manhunt to track down the suspects and bring them to justice.
In the wake of the incident, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, urged the investigation team to intensify their efforts in apprehending the suspects..