A 19-year-old woman was arrested in Mankweng Zone One on Sunday as part of an ongoing probe into the fatal shooting of Limpopo businessman Tebogo Mothapo, police said on Monday. The arrest follows an operation led by a multidisciplinary team and brings the number of suspects detained in the case to two.
How the arrest unfolded
According to a police spokesperson, the suspect was traced and apprehended after intensive investigative work by the Provincial Investigation Unit, the Provincial Tracking Team, the Capricorn Tracing Team and a private security partner, Tshimollo Security and Investigations. The woman is expected to appear soon in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on charges that include murder, conspiracy to commit murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Mothapo, aged 43, was shot and killed in Mankweng on 16 December 2025. The first arrest in the case was made on 20 July when 27-year-old Osama Azad, a naturalised South African of Pakistani origin, was detained at Ga Mothapo Tjatjaneng, the spokesperson said.
Police response and ongoing probe
Limpopo Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Jan Scheepers welcomed the latest arrest and commended the investigating teams for what he described as persistent work in the probe. Police said investigations are continuing and further court appearances are expected as the matter progresses.
- Victim: Tebogo Mothapo, 43
- Incident date: 16 December 2025
- First suspect arrested: 27 July 2026 (Osama Azad, 27)
- Second suspect arrested: Sunday (19-year-old woman), location Mankweng Zone One
Local impact and community concerns
Homicides of prominent local businesspeople reverberate in towns such as Mankweng where small and medium enterprises are central to livelihoods. Residents and traders often raise concerns about crime and its effect on local investment, jobs and informal economic activity. The arrests may provide reassurance to the community that investigators are pursuing leads, but police emphasise that the judicial process must now unfold in court.
What happens next
The young woman will make an appearance at the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court where formal charges will be read. The case file, as police described, is being prepared while detectives continue to examine evidence and follow further lines of enquiry. Any additional arrests or developments will be notified through official police channels.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Victim | Tebogo Mothapo, 43 |
| Incident | Shot and killed in Mankweng on 16 December 2025 |
| Arrests | Two suspects: Osama Azad (27) arrested 20 July; a 19-year-old woman arrested recently in Mankweng Zone One |
| Charges expected | Murder; conspiracy to commit murder; robbery with aggravating circumstances |
Practical information for the public
Police urged anyone with further information to contact the nearest police station or the Provincial Investigation Unit. Community members who may have witnessed events around the time of the killing or who have dashcam or CCTV footage that could assist the investigation are asked to come forward. Investigators stressed that protecting witnesses and preserving evidence are priorities as the case proceeds to court.
The arrest follows co‑ordinated efforts by multiple policing units and a private security partner, demonstrating multi‑agency collaboration in serious violent crime investigations in the province. Police said they will provide updates as court dates are set and as the investigation yields further results.
Reporting for Limpopo, this coverage draws on statements provided by the police spokesperson and the actions reported by policing units involved in the operation.
