Staff ReporterMPUMALANGA, SOUTH AFRICA – In a coordinated police operation, a 38-year-old Zimbabwean national was apprehended in Mpumalanga, culminating in the recovery of a stolen Toyota RAV4. The successful operation, conducted on Sunday evening, was a result of a tip-off and subsequent intelligence-driven efforts, as detailed by Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
According to Brigadier Mohlala, the operation was a collaborative effort involving multiple units: Middelburg flying squad, Sekhukhune flying squad, Tracker Connect, Modimolle flying squad, and Roedtan SAPS. The national crime intelligence structure of the South African Police Service initially flagged the vehicle as suspicious.
The investigative team tracked the vehicle to the N11 Road in the Roedtan area of Limpopo, where they intercepted the green Toyota RAV4 with a single occupant. Initial reports indicated that the vehicle, bearing Gauteng registration plates, originated from the R25 Road in Bronkhorstspruit. However, further scrutiny revealed that the plates were cloned and the vehicle was actually reported stolen from Boschkop in Gauteng earlier this month.
The driver was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. This latest development has been lauded by Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, the provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, who commended the joint efforts leading to the arrest and vehicle recovery.
These incidents underscore the ongoing efforts by South African police to clamp down on vehicle theft and smuggling, highlighting the importance of inter-departmental cooperation and intelligence sharing in combating crime.
