Limpopo police seize R3m worth of stolen goods, foreign nationals arrested
Limpopo police have arrested four foreign nationals and recovered goods valued at over R3 million in the fight against organised crime with the successful dismantling of one of the most sophisticated cross-border smuggling networks operating between South Africa and Malawi.
On Thursday, 5 June, at approximately 02:00, the Limpopo Anti-Smuggling Task Team, supported by private security companies, intercepted a Scania truck pulling superlink trailers near the Polokwane weighbridge. The vehicle was en-route from Cape Town to Malawi via the Beitbridge border post.
Following an extensive 18-hour operation and thorough search, the joint team recovered various parts from vehicles and motorcycles that were reported stolen in Cape Town.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in Limpopo colonel Malesela Ledwaba said they were able to recover chopped parts of a Ford Ranger reported stolen in Nyanga in May, including an engine, dashboard, radiator, differential and steering wheel, sixty(60) disassembled motorcycles concealed in drums and containers, reported stolen from multiple Western Cape police stations including Bellville, Mfuleni, Muizenberg, Nyanga, Milnerton, Sea Point, and Athlone.
Ledwaba said various electronic goods including plasma TVs, sound systems, solar tower batteries, and cellphones suspected to be stolen, were recovered.
Additionally, the Scania truck and trailers used in the smuggling operation were also seized as part of the investigation. The total value of recovered goods is over R3 million.
The four foreign national males aged between 37 and 50 years, were arrested and will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Monday, 9 June, on charges of possession of suspected stolen goods.
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commended the successful operation saying the breakthrough represents a major victory against sophisticated criminal networks that have been exploiting our borders to traffic stolen goods.
'The collaboration between our Anti-Smuggling Task Team and private security partners demonstrates the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts. We will continue to target these criminal syndicates relentlessly until they are completely dismantled,' Hadebe said.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
40 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Extradition request to get Gupta brothers back gains momentum
South Africa's extradition request to the UAE was rebuffed for flimsy procedural reasons. In a matter that has been dragging on for years, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) is hoping that the Gupta brothers will soon be in South Africa to face a raft of charges. IDAC is expected to submit a new extradition application for the Gupta brothers to be hauled back to South Africa from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a 'strategic initiative.' Extradition South Africa's extradition request to the UAE was rebuffed in April 2023 for flimsy procedural reasons, and without sufficient explanation, after Atul and Rajesh Gupta were quietly let off the hook months before. Following an outcry, the South African authorities were simply told to 'resubmit the application'. In November of last year, the extradition request again ended in failure due to issues with jurisdiction. ALSO READ: Gupta arrests: Turning state's witness could put brothers' lives in danger Hiding in UAE IDAC head Andrea Johnson said they will now submit a new extradition application. 'When we resubmit an application now, we've got to resubmit an application with all of the other matters that has since been investigated so that we can do it in on shot'. WATCH: Advocate Andrea Johnson speaking about the Gupta brothers extradition The Investigating Directorate will soon submit a fresh extradition application, for the Gupta brothers to be brought back from the UAE. Emirates authorities rejected the previous application, submitted in November last year. #Guptas #eNCA — eNCA (@eNCA) June 23, 2025 Johnson said Rajesh and Atul are still hiding out in the UAE. 'From what we understand, yes. I do believe that they do perhaps from time to time go to India. Be that as it may, our extradition applications would perhaps have to be more than just the UAE. It would depend at the time of the execution of the application, we would be most certainly looking at where are they and send those applications to the relevant authorities'. Zuptas Rajesh and Atul, friends of former president Jacob Zuma, are accused of using their relationship with the former president to profit financially and influence senior government appointments. They were arrested in the UAE in June 2022 after Interpol placed them on its most wanted list. The Guptas and the Zumas, famously named 'The Zuptas', were fingered in state capture. Witnesses alleged they worked together to siphon money from Transnet, Eskom, and Denel, and made decisions about who was to be appointed to Cabinet. Zuma and the Guptas have persistently denied wrongdoing. ALSO READ: Zuma and entire ANC must be sweating bullets after Gupta brothers' arrest Spilling the beans While many want a speedy extradition of the brothers to South Africa, political analyst Ralph Mathekga believes the Guptas might be in danger when they set foot on South African soil, because of the information they possess about the African National Congress (ANC) and top politicians. Mathekga previously told The Citizen that politics in South Africa would be unravelled if the Guptas are extradited. 'They will be having to speak the truth, and it's a dangerous thing for the ANC. I won't be surprised if someone tries to kill them. This thing is big, it goes deep into the party, so look at what happened to the likes of Gavin Watson.' 'When you are becoming a liability and in a moment such as this, when the ANC is at this crossroad, ANC members will not be enticed. We've seen how they kill each other, I don't think there will be a problem,' Mathekga said. Gupta threat Gareth Newham, head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Program at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) said there may be people, possibly even Zuma that were implicated in state capture and would see the Guptas as a threat. 'That would be dependent on whether they would be willing to relay information, and considering that they would want to avoid spending the rest of their lives in prison, I can't imagine they would be very keen to give that information up.' 'What they would be doing with their billions is trying to ensure like our former president that they use every possible legal channel available, the 'Stalingrad Strategy' so to speak, to try and avoid standing trial and then they would try and make sure they are acquitted by not cooperating and providing potentially plausible narrative or evidence as to why they are not guilty of any crime,' said Newham. Newham said, given the value of the Gupta brothers to the South African government, the fugitives from justice would be under intense protection against any attacks. ALSO READ: SCA overturns Nulane accused's acquittal and orders retrial
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Joburg baboon: Expert urges calm as gunshot reports investigated
With the close encounter of the baboon kind currently unfolding in the Northcliff area of Johannesburg, Dirk Engelbrecht of Wild Serve has shed light on the natural behaviour of baboons, emphasising that their dispersal patterns have occurred for at least two million years. According to the Northcliff Melville Times, these animals are endemic to specific areas, and their troops have historically existed in more rural regions. He urged the community to be understanding and patient, stating: 'It is not just a major sacrifice; it is a major compromise.' Engelbrecht, who has been working in this field for nearly 20 years, highlighted that these animals have a clear objective: To reach their destination. 'They do not have any interest in anything else. They have no nefarious intent,' he explained. 'The only opportunism they exhibit is when they encounter food.' To minimise conflicts, Engelbrecht advises residents to avoid distracting the baboons by hiding food and emptying bird feeders. 'They will find things to eat. They are still wild animals,' he noted. He addressed common misconceptions about baboons, stating that they are not a threat. 'People often give half the version, including professionals,' he said. Engelbrecht recommends that when baboons are in the area, residents should go inside, close their doors, and keep children and pets safely away. Bhaai Cassim, the secretary for the Johannesburg Sub-District Community Police Board, stated that the baboon roaming in Northcliff was last sighted on Lily Avenue at 13:45 yesterday, sitting in a tree. Residents are reminded not to approach, feed, or antagonise the baboon in any way. This follows a previous article by the newspaper in which Cassim reported that two gunshots were heard in the vicinity of the Northcliff Eco Ridge area, but the source of the shots could not be located. 'The incident was reported to the South African Police Service, who responded to investigate but were unable to find the exact location of the shots.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Probe as SANDF confirms deadly incident at Mpumalanga base
The SANDF and SAPS have launched a joint investigation into the deaths of two soldiers at the Macadamia Military Base in Mpumalanga. The SANDF confirmed Saturday's incident near Komatipoort in a statement. 'A SANDF member, who had been approved for withdrawal from duty, attacked fellow soldiers in his accommodation. One member died during the incident. The attacker later died from self-inflicted wounds when he stabbed himself on the neck,' said the SANDF on Saturday. The SANDF said Military Health and Chaplain Services were sent to support the affected members. 'The SANDF and the South African Police Service launched a joint investigation. The names of the deceased were withheld until their families had been informed. Further details will be shared as the investigation continues.' The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, and the chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, have sent their deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
