ON Thursday night, 5 September, the identities of the 17 people who were shot and killed in a confrontation with the police in Eltivillas, Makhado, Limpopo, were released.
The incident occurred on Friday, 1 September, resulting in the loss of 19 lives.
This shoot-out stemmed from an intelligence-driven operation by the police, planned weeks in advance.
A residential house in Eltivillas was identified as the suspects' "safe house".
When the police arrived at the premises, the suspects immediately opened fire, prompting the police to return fire.
A senior police officer sustained severe injuries during the shoot-out and is recovering in hospital.
All the houses of neighbours were also damaged.
On Monday, 4 September, three people among the deceased were identified, including the homeowner, Tshilidzi Maluleke (36) from Makhado.
Additionally, the domestic worker, Juliet Mgabe (27), and the gardener, Alexander Myambi (24), both of Zimbabwean nationality, were also identified.
The family spokesperson of the owner of the house, Vutomi Maluleke, told the Daily Sun about their ongoing struggle with her death.
"We are hoping that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) can do their work," Vutomi said.
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Northern Cape Community Safety's Nomandla Bloem, national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, and Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya led a delegation of senior police officers to the crime scene on Friday, 1 September.
Masemola disclosed that the group had been connected to a series of cash-in-transit heists affecting three provinces - Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng.
Furthermore, 10 vehicles in Thohoyandou and Makhado and several rifles were seized.
On Monday and Tuesday, 4 and 5 September, 17 bodies were identified by family members at Tshilidzi Hospital.
The names of the identified deceased are: Mr Mandakayise Ngcobo (49) from Gauteng, Mr Mzwandile Wiseman Hlongwane (43) from Soweto (Gauteng), Mr Siyabonga Nicholus Mkhunya (44) from Diepkloof (Gauteng) and Mr Lazarus Bernard Ndlovu (39) from Middleburg (Mpumalanga).
Mr Khulekani Sibanda (42) from Zimbabwe, Mr Disego Collins Moagi (45) from Gasekororo (Limpopo), Mr Frank Moyo (43) (Zimbabwe). Mr Magangane Mandlenkosi (35) from Diepkloof (Gauteng), Mr Mokwi Moses Ntshetseng (41) from Gamasemola (Limpopo) and Mr Japhta “Tsepo” Makhavhu (46) from Lwamondo-Tshitandani (Limpopo).
Additionally, Mr Lehlohonolo David Tshuto (41) from Mabopane (Gauteng), the alleged kingpin Mr Simbarashe Malvin Machingauta (37) (Zimbabwean), Mr Thabo Christopher Thipe (54) from Lenesia (Gauteng), and Ramaisa Dipholo (36) from Braamfischer (Gauteng).
The identification process of the outstanding two deceased will continue on Wednesday, 6 September.
Five other suspects involved in a cash-in-transit heist were arrested in Thohoyandou on the same day and appeared in the Vuwani Magistrates Court on Monday, 4 September.
Robbie Raburabu, spokesman for Ipid, said: “The case opened is supposed to be an inquest regarding the deaths. Ipid will only investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.”
