A KwaZulu-Natal man has been arrested after he was found in possession of a stolen vehicle, unlicensed firearms, and parts of a police uniform — and has since been linked to the murder of a Newcastle taxi owner and a business robbery in Utrecht.

According to a statement released on Thursday by provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza, Simphiwe Mhlongo, 38, was first taken into custody on September 16 in the Amajuba District by police officers working with Road Traffic Inspectorate officers and private security guards.

“The arrest came after an off-duty police officer spotted a vehicle driven by Mhlongo travelling along the N11. The same vehicle was suspected of being involved in the theft of livestock in Mpumalanga province,” says Magwaza.

“Police officers, together with their crime-fighting partners, stopped the vehicle and, through investigations, it was discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen at Jeppestown, Johannesburg, in 2023,” added Magwaza

Magwaza said that upon investigation, the vehicle was confirmed to have been reported stolen in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, in 2023.

Police discovered a rifle, a pistol, pieces of police uniform, a police certifying stamp, multiple car keys, and a vehicle logbook.

Preliminary findings revealed that the rifle had been reported stolen in Osizweni.

Mhlongo made his first appearance at the Utrecht Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 17 September, and was remanded in custody pending further investigation and a bail application.

However, on Monday, 22 September, his bail bid collapsed after police linked him to the murder of a taxi owner in Osizweni and a business robbery in Utrecht in May 2025.

He added that investigations are still ongoing, and it was expected that Mhlongo would face more criminal charges.

IOL NEWS

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