Members of the SAPS flying squad from Waterberg and Capricorn districts in Limpopo have arrested a 54-year-old man for possession of suspected hijacked motor vehicle, a white Toyota Fortuner.

The vehicle was intercepted on Sunday, along the N1 North freeway between Kranskop Plaza and Nyl Plaza.

“Information at our disposal suggests that members were on patrol duties when they spotted a suspicious white Toyota Fortuner. They tactically approached it and the driver was alone in the vehicle,” said Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.

Upon conducting the preliminary investigations, the alert police officers established that the vehicle was reported stolen this month at Garsfontein in Pretoria east.

A 54-year-old man is scheduled to appear before the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court after he was allegedly found driving a stolen Toyota Fortuner to Zimbabwe. Picture: SAPS

“The vehicle was intended to be smuggled through the Beitbridge border to Zimbabwe. The suspect was then immediately placed under arrest,” said Ledwaba.

Meanwhile, provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the dedicated police members involved in the arrest and recovery of the stolen vehicle.

The 54-year-old man is scheduled to appear before Mokopane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

In August, IOL reported that the Mokopane Regional Court in Limpopo sentenced 46-year-old Vusi Vincent Moloka to seven years direct imprisonment for possession of a stolen vehicle.

At the time, Ledwaba said on March 20, at around 6pm, the South African Police Service received information about a stolen Toyota Fortuner with Gauteng registration numberplates travelling from Sandton to Limpopo via the N1 North.

A lookout was issued, and with assistance from Spoorvat and Reflex private security companies, Ledwaba said the wanted vehicle was spotted on the N1 freeway.

Vusi Vincent Moloka was sentenced to seven years in jail after he was found driving a stolen Toyota Fortuner from Gauteng to Limpopo. Picture: SAPS

“The driver attempted to flee but was later arrested in Modimolle with the stolen vehicle's keys in his possession,” Ledwaba said.

“The case was transferred to the Modimolle Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) and allocated to Detective Sergeant Mpedi Ngoepe, who ensured a watertight case and successfully opposed bail.”

IOL