Thokozile Mnguni
Police have launched a manhunt following an armed robbery and housebreaking at the home of former Cabinet Minister Dr Naledi Pandor in Tshwane, where occupants were held at gunpoint before suspects fled with valuables including phones, laptops, a television and a vehicle.
The incident has prompted a high-level investigation, with the police deploying all available resources to trace and apprehend those responsible.
Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has called for sustained intelligence-driven operations across the country following the release of the latest quarterly crime statistics, which show a decline in several categories of serious and violent crime.
Dimpane praised officers for their work, saying coordinated operations are producing positive results, but warned that police must maintain pressure on criminal networks and repeat offenders.
She instructed provincial commissioners to intensify high-density operations, disruptive policing actions and intelligence-led investigations, saying authorities must continue to “stamp the authority of the state” through sustained enforcement action.
Police confirmed that a manhunt has been activated in connection with the robbery, with the investigation prioritised and specialist teams working around the clock to track down the suspects.
The District Commissioner of Tshwane, Major General Samuel Thine, is expected to visit the family to provide an update on the investigation and outline ongoing policing interventions.
While national statistics for January to March show a decline in housebreaking incidents, Dimpane said these crimes remain a priority area for focused policing.