Many fear region a ‘soft target’

An uptick in the number of incidents of car theft and hijacking in the Waterberg in recent weeks have raised concerns about certain models being targeted.

The latest incident was the court appearance on Monday 24 February of two suspects who allegedly hijacked a bakkie in Bela-Bela in January.

Bela-Bela police spokesperson, Sergeant Frans Maponya, said Thomas Makhubela (33) and Simon Makgatho (42) — both from Bela-Bela — were expected to appear for a formal bail application before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court on Friday 28 February.

They are facing charges of theft and possession of an allegedly stolen vehicle.

Maponya said the two suspects were tracked down and arrested separately in the village of Gasekgopo and also in the Rottterdam area.

The bakkie was recovered in Gasekgopo.

In a separate incident, two suspects were expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court midweek for a formal bail application, following the alleged theft and recovery of a stolen sedan.

When Bela-Bela businessman and socialite, Jacob Tlou, woke up, he found his car missing from a workshop he owns in Modimolle.

Tlou moved swiftly, by circulating pictures of the car on social media, which apparently led to the recovery of the vehicle at a spares outlet in Pretoria West.

— The BEAT