A South African man, Solomon Chiloane, has been sentenced to eight years’ direct imprisonment after attempting to smuggle a stolen Toyota Hilux from Tshwane to Zimbabwe.
The Mokopane Regional Court convicted 34-year-old Chiloane on Wednesday for possession of stolen property, stemming from his arrest on 14 July 2025. Chiloane was intercepted while driving a white Toyota Hilux Club Cab high-raised body along the R101 into Mokopane. The vehicle had been reported stolen in the Lyttelton policing area in Tshwane.
Police confirmed that the arrest was part of an intelligence-driven joint operation involving the Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team, Tshimollo Security and Investigation, Shadowsecure Security, and Tracker Connect.
Although a first-time offender, Chiloane received a direct eight-year sentence, with the court emphasizing that it should deter others involved in vehicle theft and smuggling.
Acting Limpopo police commissioner, Major General Jan Scheepers, praised the coordinated effort, saying:
“Criminal elements have no space in our province, and any such effort will be stopped.”
The case highlights the ongoing collaboration between law enforcement and private security firms to combat organised vehicle theft and smuggling operations.
