Polokwane – Limpopo’s top cop, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has condemned false claims circulating online that suggest police officers in the province are using traditional muthi as a crime-fighting tool.
The claims appeared on a satirical website called News Vine, which the police say has no credible author or identifiable sources, police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said in a statement.
The article sparked public concern and confusion on social media platforms, prompting a swift response from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“One of our biggest threats in the social media space is fake news. This fake news has a potential to create panic and confusion, therefore we condemn it in the strong harshest terms,” Hadebe said.
#sapsLIM The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has expressed shock and dismay following the spreading of fake news suggesting that Limpopo police are using traditional muthi as a crime-fighting strategy as depicted in the News Vine… pic.twitter.com/upXQQnga2e
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) July 12, 2025
“For the record, names of police officials being mentioned in the article are not known in the SAPS environment in the province. We have responsibility to report facts and not fiction.
“We urge the members of the public to fact-check first before sharing anything on social media platforms. Those who are found to be sharing fake and unverified information will be charged accordingly.”
Picture: X/@SAPoliceService
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
