POLOKWANE, South Africa — The Polokwane Magistrate’s Court has remanded 43-year-old Zimbabwean national Mhlalisi Moyo in custody following his arrest for possession of a suspected stolen vehicle in Limpopo.
According to Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, provincial police spokesperson, Moyo appeared in court on Friday. His case was postponed to May 29 for a formal bail application.
Moyo was apprehended during a joint operation involving the SAPS anti-smuggling task team, Tshimollo Security and Investigation, Reflex Anti-hijacking Security, and Tracker SA. He was arrested at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday near Shell Ultra City in Polokwane on the N1 highway, where officers intercepted a Toyota RAV4 reported stolen in Brooklyn, Tshwane.
In a separate but related incident, the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court also remanded 34-year-old Lucky Msizi Tshabangu, a South African national, in custody after his arrest while allegedly driving a stolen vehicle toward the Zimbabwean border.
Tshabangu faces charges of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle and reckless and negligent driving. He was reportedly attempting to evade arrest when police intercepted a Toyota Corolla Cross in Mokopane CBD along the R101. The vehicle had been reported stolen from the Wierdabrug area in Tshwane on May 16.
Authorities believe both incidents are connected to larger cross-border vehicle theft syndicates targeting South Africa.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, provincial police commissioner, commended the multi-agency collaboration, noting the recovery of 12 stolen vehicles in recent weeks.
“The recovery of these twelve vehicles represents a significant blow to these criminal networks. Our officers and their partners continue to work tirelessly to dismantle these syndicates that threaten our communities and economy,” said Hadebe.
