| Meet Limpopo's most potent weapon against serious and violent crimes, Colonel Sotlo Richard Boshomane | |
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| Date Published | |
| 2025/07/03 | |
| Details | |
Media Statement
POLOKWANE - The South African Police Service in Limpopo introduces the legendary figure, a detective whose name sends shivers down the spines of the province's most hardened criminals. Colonel Sotlo Richard Boshomane, commander of both the Provincial Investigation Unit (PIU) and Provincial Tracking Team, has transformed law enforcement in the province through sheer determination, tactical brilliance, and unwavering commitment to justice. Since joining the police service in 1987, Colonel Boshomane has built an extra-ordinary career spanning over three decades. Through his leadership prowess, his team is renowned as "Team No Sleep" and cemented his legacy as Limpopo's most formidable investigator. Colonel Boshomane's exceptional journey began as a young Constable at Malipsdrift Police Station where his natural talent for criminal investigation kick-started. His meticulous approach to statement-taking and crime scene management caught the attention of superiors, propelling him from the Community Service Centre to the Criminal Investigation unit. Since 1990, Colonel Boshomane climbed the ranks steadily, earning promotion after promotion while building a reputation for excellence. By 2012, his capabilities had become so evident that provincial management tasked him with establishing what would become two of the province's most effective crime-fighting units. When tasked with creating the Provincial Investigation Unit and Tracking Team, Colonel Boshomane didn't just assemble a group of officers, he forged a crime-fighting machine. Recruiting promising young constables, both males and females, instilling in them his own relentless work ethic and passion for justice. The nickname "Team No Sleep" wasn't given lightly. Under Colonel Boshomane's leadership, the unit became known for their round-the-clock operations, pursuing criminals without rest until cases were solved. This tireless approach has led to solving complex cases in record time, by thoroughly investigating and therefore resulting in lengthy jail sentences. When Colonel Boshomane and his team are on the case, criminals know there is nowhere to hide. In 2016, when Limpopo was plagued by a wave of cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies, provincial management turned to Colonel Boshomane's team for solutions. The results were nothing short of remarkable. His "Team No Sleep" dismantled sophisticated CIT robbery networks, pavement robbery gangs, ATM bombing operations, and car hijacking syndicates. Their success was so profound that by 2018, Colonel Boshomane's team was deployed nationally to combat CIT heists across South Africa. The statistics speak volumes: in a single year, his team arrested 335 CIT suspects, recovered 308 firearms (including 70 high-powered rifles), and retrieved 310 stolen vehicles. The combined sentences for criminals convicted through their investigations exceed an astonishing 1,000 years of imprisonment. Solving Limpopo's most notorious cases, Colonel Boshomane's case file reads like a catalogue of Limpopo's most heinous crimes, all solved through his leadership: The double murder of businesswomen Makwena Mabusela-Leshabane and Tebogo Mphuti. Boshomane's team secured life imprisonment for four perpetrators. The horrific Burgersfort bus torching that claimed six lives. Five suspects received multiple life sentences. The assassination of Collins Chabane Municipality Mayor Moses “Big Moss” Maluleke. Five arrests, all resulting in life imprisonment. Currently, Colonel Boshomane is dismantling cross-border vehicle smuggling operations and illicit cigarette syndicates, with over 100 suspects arrested and over 80 luxury vehicles recovered since December 2023. His team has also solved shocking cases like the GA-Chuene clinic attack where two nurses were raped, and the murder of Constable Modiba with the recovery of stolen R5 rifles. What truly distinguishes Colonel Boshomane is his commitment to developing the next generation of investigators. As he approaches the latter stages of his career, his focus has increasingly turned to mentorship. "The Colonel doesn't just catch criminals—he builds detectives says a junior team member. "He is teaching us not just how to investigate, but how to pursue justice with the same passion and precision." The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Hadebe who recently honoured Colonel Boshomane with an award in December 2024, speaks of him with unrestrained admiration: "Colonel Boshomane represents the highest ideals of our service. His technical skills are matched only by his leadership abilities. The investigators he is mentoring will carry his legacy forward for decades to come." At the helm of "Team No Sleep," Colonel Boshomane continues to be Limpopo's most potent weapon against serious crime. His approach combines old-school detective work with modern investigative techniques, creating a methodology that has proven devastatingly effective against even the most sophisticated criminal networks. As trials approach for numerous high-profile cases in 2025—from the Malamulele police station attack to the chilling Seshego serial killer investigation—Colonel Sotlo Richard Boshomane remains undaunted. For criminals across Limpopo province, the message is clear: as long as Colonel Boshomane and his "Team No Sleep" are on watch, there will be no rest for the wicked, no hiding place safe enough, and no escape from justice.
The Colonel's philosophy is simple yet powerful: "Criminals may run, but they cannot outrun a team that never sleeps."
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