A Limpopo community is living in fear after a criminal gang shot its way into a residential compound for two consecutive nights and robbed foreign nationals operating spaza shops of cash and a luxury car.

According to residents of Ga-Mokgwathi Village outside Tzaneen, a group of around 20 men armed with firearms and hammers broke into the secure compound shortly after 2 am on Wednesday, August 19, and started firing shots.

They forced the gate open, broke windows and burglar doors, forcing some occupants to seek refuge in the ceilings. Neighbours and other residents say the heavily armed gang travelling in two Toyota Quantum minibuses and a white bakkie ransacked 12 rooms in the yard, in which mainly Ethiopian nationals running businesses in the area live.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the armed gang’s reign of terror started in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“On Wednesday, they arrived at around 02:25. They started breaking doors, gates, windows and knocked down some walls of the rooms. They fired several shots and drove over the gate with a car. They ransacked the rooms rented by the foreign nationals and did whatever they did,” said the resident.

“They came back again this morning (Thursday) at around 03:30 and did the same thing. Luckily, most of the Ethiopian nationals had fled the scene. Only three were left. They threatened them, took their bakkie and abandoned it at Xihoko village.”

The source said they suspected business robbery as the motive. He said the men spoke the local Khelobedu and Tsonga languages.

“It’s the first time something like this happens in the community, where criminals come with guns and hammers and start breaking gates and doors and robbing people. We hear that this thing started in Nkowankowa, moved to Sekororo, Mageva and Dzumeri. It’s a syndicate. We are under siege and need help. The police, in my view, are also failing us because we call them and they arrive more than an hour late from the Mokwakwaila Police Station. All the time they arrive when the robbers are gone already. It’s like they wait until the criminals leave before coming through,” the resident added.

He maintained that the gang seemed to target foreign nationals operating spaza shops because local business owners were not affected.

“They target homes occupied or rented by foreign nationals. They are interested in them. They didn’t enter any home owned by a local business person.”

Another resident, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprissal, said they were awoken by sounds of gun fire on Wednesday morning.

“From 2 am until 3 am there was a loud sound of gun fire. It was just ‘boom, boom, boom’ for a long time. For more than an hour. Again, this morning (Thursday), the same thing happened. When I asked later on, I heard the robbers had arrived in a minibus taxi and a van. They left with a car belonging to one of the foreign nationals. Initially I thought it was the police chasing criminals. Only to find it’s these criminals robbing people,” the second resident added.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the incident, saying a manhunt was underway for about 19 men who allegedly carried out a pre-dawn robbery at a house in Ga-Mokgwathi village. He said the robbers escaped with cash and a Toyota Hilux, with an estimated value of R150 000.

Ledwaba said the suspects allegedly struck at about 3.30am on Wednesday, when a 36-year-old foreign national was asleep at the property.

“It is alleged that a 36 year-old foreign male victim was asleep in his room when he was woken by loud banging on the gate. Moments later, he heard gunshots being fired from the gate and inside the yard. “The victim allegedly climbed into the ceiling and hid, fearing for his life when an estimated number of about 19 suspects forced open the door and entered his room,” Ledwaba said.

“The suspects apparently ransacked the room and took an undisclosed amount of cash and motor vehicle keys. They proceeded to 11 other rooms inside the house and broke in and took an undisclosed amount of cash.”

He appealed to anyone with information that could help identify the suspects or locate the stolen vehicle to contact the police.

“A manhunt of the male suspects is underway, and anyone with information that can assist with the investigation may contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Lily Ncwana, on 079 722 9596 or crime stop number 08600 10111 or (the) nearest police station or MySAPS,” he said.