The City of Ekurhuleni’s outreach to owners of vehicles impounded in Boksburg has unearthed large-scale criminal activities involving vehicles from neighbouring countries, including Eswatini.
The city had recently called on owners whose vehicles were impounded by the EMPD before January 2024 and was still at the impound yard to make the necessary arrangements to retrieve their properties by July 12.
This was because vehicles not collected before July 12 would be at risk of disposal.
Among those who heeded the call were law enforcement agencies from Eswatini, after picking up on information that there was something amiss with some of the Eswatini registered vehicles at the impound lot in Boksburg.
Information received by the Eswatini officials suggested that some of the vehicles at the pound were either reported stolen in Eswatini, while others were used in criminal activities within the kingdom.
According to metro spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, after engaging in bilateral negotiations and agreement on the uncovered evidence, officials from Eswatini with their South African counterparts carried out verifications and further investigations.
During the vehicle verification process, members of the Interpol delegation from Eswatini found at least 17 vehicles from the kingdom that were seized by the EMPD.
It was found that in some cases criminals fraudulently bought vehicles in Eswatini, and after making initial deposits to the car dealers, they then disappeared to use these vehicles in South Africa.
It was also found that others were used in the commission of crimes within the kingdom.
Dlamini said once the investigations are concluded, a process to return the stolen vehicles to the rightful owners will kick-start. However, vehicles that were found to have been used in criminal activities at home and abroad will remain subject to SAPS criminal investigations.
He stated that in one of the cases, officials found a Nissan 7-seater that was registered in Eswatini under the name of another car make and model.
Dlamini pointed out that there are several other vehicles bearing registrations from other countries including Botswana, Zambia and Lesotho.
He urged the owners, including those from neighbouring countries, to claim or verify the impounded vehicles.
The city said it doesn’t rule out the possibility that the crimes involving impounded foreign-registered vehicles in Boksburg is not an isolated problem, but a nationwide issue.
“The Boksburg matter could be just the tip of the iceberg.”
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