By OBAKENG MAJE
One of the most wanted criminals has been arrested by police, the North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone. According to information, the suspect, who is known as Chris Sithole, but sometimes calls himself Leon Nkomo, is facing seven separate cases of rape, three robberies, housebreaking, and theft.
“The long arm of the law caught up with Chris Sithole, who is one of the Top 50 Most Wanted Suspects in the province. Sithole, who also calls himself Leon Nkomo, was arrested by the police in Musina, Limpopo.
“He was then handed over to the North West Provincial Tracking Team on 13 September 2022 and taken to Brits to face seven separate cases of rape, three of robbery, and one of housebreaking and theft,” Mokgwabone said.
He said these crimes were committed between January 2012 and February 2021 in the policing area of Brits. Mokgwabone said in one of the cases, the accused allegedly raped a woman in May 2012.
“A couple was travelling in their vehicle when they saw stones placed on the N4 road in the vicinity of Bokfontein, near Brits. The husband then reduced the speed in order to stop, but the vehicle overturned just after the couple heard the sound of car tyres bursting.
“They were rescued out of the vehicle by three men, who then took turns to rape the woman. Following investigations conducted on this case and others, Sithole was also linked with a house-breaking committed in February 2021 in Brits,” said Mokgwabone.
He said the occupant of the house was woken up by an activated alarm. Mokgwabone said on the investigation, he realised that the intruder gained entrance into the house and stole clothes and various electrical appliances worth R20 500.
“Upon appearance before the Brits Magistrate’s Court on 14 September 2022, the accused was remanded in custody. He will make his second court appearance on 7 October 2022,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena pointed out that the arrest will definitely send a clear message that no place is difficult to get to in the country for the police to bring offenders to book. Kwena also lauded the police in both provinces for their collaboration, which resulted in the arrest.
The Guardian 