September 21, 16:10
LIMPOPO – Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Capt Matimba Maluleke said the private appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court today. “He was remanded in custody until next week Tuesday for formal bail application.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
September 21, 08:58
LIMPOPO – A ninth South African National Defence Force soldier has been arrested in relation to cross-border vehicle smuggling.
The 31-year-old man was arrested by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on Monday (September 20).
A statement by Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Capt Matimba Maluleke said the soldier forms part of eight SANDF members who were arrested in North West, the Free State and the Northern Cape since June 21.
“The accused were arrested during a sting operation between the Hawks, National Intervention Unit and SANDF members under the project dubbed ‘Night Vigil’,” he explained.
The eighth suspect was arrested in the Northern Cape on September 15, while Maluleke told Review that the ninth suspect was arrested in Polokwane.
Also read: Eighth suspect in SANDF vehicle smuggling case granted bail
“Between 2017 and 2019, the accused were deployed at the Beitbridge Border Post to protect the territorial integrity of the Republic of South Africa. Instead of carrying out their constitutional mandate, the accused allegedly connived with vehicle smuggling syndicates to smuggle stolen vehicles through the Limpopo River,” he added.
Maluleke said it is believed that drivers had to pay R15 000 for each vehicle, which would be shared among themselves.
“The ninth suspect will appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court soon to face corruption charges. The other eight accused persons are currently out on R3 000 bail and they will appear again on October 25,” he concluded.
Read more: SANDF members granted bail in vehicle smuggling case
