A 32-year-old man was apprehended at the Beitbridge Border for possessing a stolen Toyota Prado worth R900,000. The vehicle was reported stolen in Pretoria earlier this week. The arrest was a result of an efficient response from the police’s anti-smuggling task team in Limpopo.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, a tip-off was received on Thursday that the vehicle was en route to being smuggled into Zimbabwe. Prompt action led to the identification and interception of the vehicle on the R37 road from Lebowakgomo to Polokwane.
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The driver, a South African national, was stopped and could not produce valid documents for the Toyota Prado, leading to his immediate apprehension for possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in the Thabamoopo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 12 August 2024.
Limpopo’s Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, commended the swift actions of the officers involved in the recovery of stolen vehicles, emphasizing the police force’s commitment to combating vehicle smuggling in the province. Investigations into the stolen Toyota Prado are ongoing, to uncover any further details associated with this case.
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On the same day, another significant recovery was made in Lebowakgomo near Polokwane, where a R4 million car belonging to Member of Parliament, Mandla Mandela, was intercepted. The Toyota Land Cruiser 200, stolen from Menlyn Mall in Pretoria, was also destined for Zimbabwe.
A 42-year-old Zimbabwean national was apprehended and charged with possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle, as well as contravention of the immigration act due to his illegal status in the country. He will appear at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on 12 August 2024.
