A Malawian national and three other foreign nationals have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) for alleged theft of two vehicles, a Toyota Fortuner and Mercedes Benz truck.
According to Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, provincial police spokesperson in Limpopo, “On Sunday, at around 9:30pm, the team arrested a Malawian male national who was spotted driving in a grey Toyota Fortuner 2.8 along the R101 to Polokwane.
“The team tried to stop the vehicle, but it sped off. They followed it at a high speed, and subsequently, the vehicle was stopped next to Polokwane Shell Ultra City in the Westenburg policing area.”
Mashaba further stated that the suspects intended to smuggle the vehicles into Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The four suspects have been charged with crimes including possession of presumed stolen motor vehicles and possession of fraudulent documents.
The arrests were made by members of the SAPS anti-smuggling task team, who received a tip-off regarding the vehicles.
“We commend our team for their swift action and vigilance in apprehending these suspects,” said Mashaba.
Vehicle theft is a serious crime in South Africa, with thousands of vehicles stolen every year.
According to the South African Police Service, vehicle theft is a significant contributor to organized crime and has links to other criminal activities such as drug trafficking and arms dealing.
Malawian nationals have been increasingly linked to vehicle theft in South Africa, with many being arrested and charged for their involvement in these crimes.
The South African government has implemented various measures to combat vehicle theft, including increased border security and cooperation with neighboring countries to prevent the smuggling of stolen vehicles.
