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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A man believed to be part of a gang terrorising border jumpers and smugglers along the Limpopo River was last week fatally assaulted by a group of illegal immigrants he had attempted to rob at gunpoint.

Witness Chauke (24) was in the company of three others who are still at large when he was assaulted.

Sources close to investigations said Chauke was disarmed by the border jumpers near the Umzingwane and Limpopo Rivers confluence.

“His body was taken to Beitbridge District Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem,” said the source.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident.

He said a Smith Browning pistol (9mm) loaded with two rounds and an okapi knife were recovered from the deceased.

“We are investigating a case where the now deceased, together with three others who are still at large, pounced on a group of border jumpers along the Limpopo River,” said Chief Insp Ndebele.

“Chauke was armed with a pistol and during the robbery there was commotion. He was overpowered by his victims who then assaulted him.

“His accomplices fled from the scene upon realising they had been overpowered. Chauke sustained severe injuries and was later taken to Beitbridge District Hospital where he died upon admission.”

Chief Insp Ndebele said no arrests had been made and that they were treating the case as robbery and murder.

He said anyone with information should contact the nearest police station.

Chief Insp Ndebele warned people against crossing the border illegally as they risked being mugged, killed, raped or attacked by wild animals and criminals along the boundary.

“We continue to encourage people to use safe and legal migration methods,” he said.

“They must desist from border jumping. Such a practice puts their lives at risk.

“We have received a lot of reports of rape, murder and robberies, among other criminal vices, along the Limpopo River.”

The incident comes a few months after an 18-member gang that included suspected border jumpers and fisherman teamed up and killed a crocodile which had charged at them at an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo  River.

The incident occurred some 500 metres east of Alfred Beit Bridge.