South African man nabbed for possessing suspected stolen car

LIMPOPO police arrested a 29-year-old man for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, a bakkie which was reported stolen in Garsfontein, east of Pretoria.

The white Toyota Hilux GD6 double cab was en route to the Beitbridge border post, where police believe it would be smuggled out of the country.

“Following on information and diligent investigative work, members of the provincial murder and robbery, and the tracking team working jointly with a private security company intercepted the vehicle on Monday morning, at about 10am next to Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane,” provincial police spokesperson in Limpopo, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said.

“The vehicle, reported stolen from Garsfontein in Gauteng over the weekend, was allegedly set to be illegally exported out of South Africa.”

Police said the man, a South African citizen, was cornered along the N1 after he attempted to escape.

“The operational team with assistance from a security company gave chase and the suspect was eventually nabbed at the Peter Mokaba Stadium,” Ledwaba said.

Meanwhile, the provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has commended the law enforcement agents involved in the operation for their “dedication and professionalism”.

Hadebe also applauded the close co-operation between police and the private security team.

“The arrest demonstrates the power of community-police partnership in ensuring crime is defeated, including cross-border crimes,” said Hadebe.

The 29-year-old man is scheduled to appear at Polokwane Magistrate Court today, facing a charge of possession of suspected stolen property.

Last year, in another case, IOL reported that the regional court in Mokopane, in Limpopo, convicted and sentenced, a 35-yearold South African man who was arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner, to six years in jail.

At the time, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, said Shane Mthombeni was sentenced to six years imprisonment, without the option of a fine.

“The court heard that the South African citizen, Shane Mthombeni was intercepted by police while driving a silver motor vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner at Nyl Toll Plaza along the N1 Highway on Monday, October 30,” Mashaba said.

Members of the Limpopo police’s provincial tracking team, in conjunction with a private security company operationalised information which had been gathered, and intercepted the vehicle.