Police arrested seven suspects linked to an ice cream factory robbery in Polokwane CBD. Image: Facebook @South African Police Service
An intelligence-driven operation by Limpopo police resulted in the swift arrest of seven suspects less than an hour after an armed business robbery at an ice cream factory in the Polokwane CBD on Monday.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the swift response which involved multiple law enforcement and private security teams led to the recovery of stolen goods, four illegal firearms with live ammunition, and the white Audi S3 getaway vehicle that was used in the crime.
Incident and Rapid Response
“During the robbery, the armed suspects stormed into the factory, accosted employees, and robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash, various items, and cellphones before fleeing the scene,” said Ledwaba.
Acting on an immediate tip-off, operational teams quickly mobilised the multidisciplinary team, which included the Provincial Tracking Team, Provincial Investigation Unit, and the Mankweng Task Team, successfully traced the suspects to a safe house in the Zorra Section, Solomondale, near Mankweng.
“Upon arrival, the suspects were found consuming alcohol. One suspect opened fire at police and managed to flee, while six male suspects aged between 28 and 52, all from Mamelodi in Gauteng and a 34-year-old female homeowner were arrested,” Ledwaba said.
Police Applaud Collaborative Effort
Meanwhile, preliminary investigations confirmed that the recovered white Audi S3 was the vehicle used during the Polokwane robbery, with several stolen items also recovered at the scene of the arrests.
Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Major General Jan Scheepers, commended the speed and precision of the collaborative effort.
He further issued a stern warning to criminals operating across provincial lines, “Limpopo will never be a playground for criminals, we shall together with our communities guard it with the jealousy it deserves.”
The suspects are currently facing charges of business robbery, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, and possession of stolen goods.
They are scheduled to appear before the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Police confirmed that further investigations are underway to potentially link the arrested individuals to other business robberies committed across Limpopo, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces.
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