Zimbabwean, South African arrested with stolen vehicles in Limpopo

IOL

A 45-year-old Zimbabwean national and a 43-year-old South African man and were arrested in Limpopo after police intercepted two vehicles allegedly stolen in Gauteng and believed to be headed for smuggling across the Beitbridge border.

The suspects were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation conducted on Saturday, July 11.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the operation was carried out by the Provincial Tracking Team and the Provincial Investigation Unit, working with ShadowSecure Security, Tshimollo Security and Investigations, Tracker Connect and Limpopo Tactical Security.

Ledwaba said police received information about two vehicles allegedly stolen in Gauteng that were travelling in convoy along the N1 towards the Beitbridge border.

He said officers immediately acted on the intelligence and maintained surveillance along the N1 South.

“The two vehicles, travelling in convoy, were spotted and intercepted in the Westenburg policing area outside Polokwane,” Ledwaba said.

He said preliminary investigation confirmed that the first vehicle, a silver Toyota Corolla Cross, had been reported stolen in the Brooklyn policing area in Pretoria.

Its driver, a 43-year-old South African man, was arrested at the scene.

Ledwaba said further investigation established that the second vehicle, a Mazda 2, had been reported stolen in the Silverton policing area in Pretoria.

The driver, a 45-year-old Zimbabwean national, was also arrested.

He confirmed that cases of possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles have been opened at Westenburg Police Station.

“The recovered vehicles have been seized for further investigation,” Ledwaba said.

The two suspects are expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday, July 13, on charges of possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles.

Acting Limpopo provincial police commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers welcomed the arrests and praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and private security partners in combating cross-border crime.