A 31-year-old man has been remanded in custody after being arrested in Limpopo while allegedly driving a stolen vehicle (Toyota Corolla Cross) toward the Beitbridge border post.
Police say the suspect, identified as Mikael Mlambo, appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court this week.
The case has been postponed to next week
This development raises renewed concerns about cross-border vehicle smuggling into Zimbabwe. Mlambo’s case was postponed to next Monday to allow authorities time to profile the accused, as reported by IOL.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the stolen vehicle had been reported earlier this month in Pretoria Central.
It was spotted speeding along the N1 South highway, apparently en route to Zimbabwe.
When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver fled, Mashaba said. A high-speed chase followed and ended in Nirvana, Polokwane, where the vehicle was eventually intercepted.
Police found a damaged tracking device and no proof of ownership.
More stolen vehicles being smuggled into Zimbabwe
The South African reported that SAPS recovered two stolen vehicles valued at approximately R1.4 million. In separate incidents, the operations aimed at curbing cross-border vehicle smuggling into Zimbabwe.
A joint operation led by the SAPS Anti-Smuggling Team, Tshimollo Security and Investigation, and Reflex Anti-Hijacking Security resulted in the interception of a stolen vehicle.
According to the South African Police Service, officers stopped a Toyota Hilux GD6 double cab on the R101 near the Polokwane weighbridge.
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