A 34-YEAR OLD MAN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION SUSPECTED STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE

The Police in Limpopo have arrested a 34-year-old suspect for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, who is also linked to a ‘vehicle-smuggling syndicate’ operating between Gauteng and Limpopo in Beitbridge on Monday, 23 October 2023.

The Provincial Tracking Team, Provincial Murder and Robbery, Sekhukhune Highway Patrol (Flying Squad ) and Private Security Companies received information about the suspect driving on the Berghenk road en route to smuggle a vehicle from Gauteng to Zimbabwe through Beitbridge.

The Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba says the operation was activated, and the team spotted the described Toyota Fortuna 2.8 Gold. They tried to stop it, but the driver sped off. A chase ensued from Kuschke Agriculture School until he stopped at R101 next to Lund’s. The suspect was immediately arrested for possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle, driving without a valid driving license, and it was also established that he is in the country illegally.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was reported stolen at Garsfontein, Gauteng Province on Saturday, 21 October 2023. The same suspect on the 14 October 2023 smuggled a Toyota Hilux Legend 50 to Zimbabwe.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the teams involved for moving swiftly to arrest the suspect. Lieutenant General Hadebe has also directed the teams to look at the modus operandi in order to prevent the same incidents from happening in the province.

The suspect is expected to appear before Polokwane Magistrate Court soon, facing charges relating to breach of immigration laws, possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle and driving a motor vehicle without valid driving license.

The police investigations might link the suspect with more similar cases.