Stolen vehicles worth R4.9m intercepted outside Polokwane

POLOKWANE – The Limpopo police continue to crack down on stolen vehicles intended to be smuggled out of the country with two more arrests in the last three days.

In the first incident, a 42-year-old Zimababwean national was arrested and charged with possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle after he was caught driving a car belonging to a Member of Parliament.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the vehicle was stolen on Wednesday afternoon (Auguts 7) in the Menlyn Mall parking lot in Pretoria.

“The vehicle was intended to be smuggled into Zimbabwe when the suspect was apprehended later that evening in the Lebowakgomo policing area outside Polokwane,” his statement read.

Ledwaba added that the suspect was also charged with contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 after it was established that he was in the country illegally.

“The suspect is currently in custody and will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on August 12,” he said.

Further investigations are underway to address the full scope of the crime and potential accomplices.

Meanwhile, a Toyota SUV worth R900k was intercepted on the R37 near Lebowakgomo on Thursday (August 8) and a 32-year-old man arrested.

Ledwaba said the arrest followed a tip-off about a stolen vehicle intended to be smuggled into Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge Border Post.

“The vehicle was reported stolen on August 5 in Pretoria. The suspect was charged with possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle.”

Ledwaba said the police stopped the vehicle and upon searching it, the South African driver was was unable to produce the valid documents of the vehicle.

The provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the arrest and commended the members for always being dedicated to their duties and persistently recover stolen vehicles.

The arrested suspect will appear before the Thabamoopo Magistrate’s Court on August 12.