Police in Mpumalanga have arrested two suspects for possession of suspected stolen motorcycle parts following an operation along the N4 near Waterval Boven.

The arrests were made on Sunday, 11 January, when police officers stationed in Waterval Boven were conducting patrols between Machado Toll Plaza and Waterval Boven. Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said police received information about a taxi with Mozambican registration plates allegedly transporting a stolen motorcycle.

Officers carried out stop-and-search operations and stopped a white Toyota Quantum towing a trailer. During the search, police discovered stripped Big Boy motorcycle parts hidden under bags of potatoes on the trailer. Additional motorcycle parts were found concealed inside a container.

Two Mozambican nationals, Sitefane Hani Zimba, 29, and Jeofris Jorge Nhuvunga, 25, were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the motorcycle was stolen in Protea Glen, Soweto, and that the suspects were allegedly en route to Mozambique.

The pair appeared before the Belfast Periodical Court, where the case was postponed to 28 January for legal aid applications. Both suspects remain in police custody.

In another incident, police in Mpumalanga arrested a 30-year-old man after intercepting a stolen Toyota Fortuner during an intelligence-driven operation near Belfast.

According to Ndubane, the arrest was made on Friday, 10 January, when a multidisciplinary team comprising the Middelburg Flying Squad, the Machadodorp Community Policing Forum and a tracking company followed up on information about a stolen vehicle.

The Toyota Fortuner, fitted with Gauteng registration plates, had been reported stolen in Wierdabrug, Centurion.

With assistance from the tracking company, the vehicle was spotted travelling along the R540 road. Police gave chase and followed it to Madala location in Belfast, where it was positively identified as stolen.

The driver, Murendeni Nekhubvi, 30, was arrested for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.

Nekhubvi appeared before the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 12 January, where he was granted bail of R5,000. He is expected to return to court on 2 February.

The acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, praised police members, tracking companies and community policing forums for their coordinated efforts.

He warned that Mpumalanga would not be allowed to serve as a transit route for stolen vehicles, adding that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in tackling vehicle-related crime.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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