LIMPOPO — Provincial police have opened an urgent manhunt after four armed suspects allegedly kidnapped a farm worker during a carjacking at a farm in Tshamutumbu, in the Vhembe District. The incident took place on Saturday morning and sparked an intensive search as officers investigate charges of carjacking and kidnapping, police said.
What happened
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba told reporters the farm worker was at the farm at about 11:30 when he was confronted by four unknown men armed with a firearm and a knife. The suspects allegedly demanded the worker’s vehicle, forced him into the loading area and covered his face before driving off with him.
“It is alleged that at about 11.30am, the victim was busy at the farm when he was approached by four unknown suspects armed with a firearm and a knife,” Ledwaba said.
The victim was subsequently dropped at another farm near the Limpopo River, where he received assistance. The suspects continued to flees in the victim’s vehicle, a white Toyota Land Cruiser which police later recovered abandoned in the middle of the river.
Vehicle recovered but stripped
Officers who recovered the vehicle found that several parts had been removed. Colonel Ledwaba said the battery and spare wheel were missing. The vehicle is valued at approximately R700,000.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Tshamutumbu farm, Vhembe District |
| Time | About 11:30 (Saturday) |
| Suspects | Four unknown males, armed with a firearm and a knife |
| Vehicle | White Toyota Land Cruiser, valued ~R700,000 (battery and spare wheel missing) |
| Charges under investigation | Carjacking and kidnapping |
Police appeal to the public
No arrests have been made and investigators are appealing to anyone with information to come forward. Colonel Ledwaba urged members of the public to contact the investigating officer or the police through several channels.
- Contact investigating officer Sgt Manyaga Freddie (details held at local station)
- Report to the nearest SAPS station
- Call the Crime Stop hotline
- Use the MySAPS App to submit information
Police said investigations are ongoing. Local farm owners and labourers in the area expressed concern about the incident, highlighting long-standing worries about armed robberies and the security of rural workers and remote properties.
Rural safety and practical precautions
Farm communities across Limpopo have in recent years reported incidents of vehicle thefts, house robberies and violent crime affecting workers and owners. While an individual criminal investigation continues, police and community safety groups routinely advise practical steps to reduce risk:
- Keep vehicles locked and keys secured off-site where possible.
- Report any suspicious activity immediately to SAPS and local neighbourhood watch groups.
- Ensure workers know emergency contact numbers and have a plan for rapid communication.
- Consider routine checks of farm perimeters and secure storage for expensive vehicle components and batteries.
Policing in rural Limpopo faces logistical challenges: long distances between farms, limited patrol resources and weak mobile reception in some areas. Community policing forums and local farms often supplement SAPS efforts with co‑ordinated watches and information sharing.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact their nearest SAPS station or the Crime Stop hotline. Information can also be submitted through the MySAPS App. Police have reiterated that all tips will be treated confidentially.
Further updates will follow as police release more information and as investigators pursue leads in the ongoing enquiry.
Reporting from Vhembe District.
