Modjadjiskloof raid uncovers multiple stolen vehicles
A major operation uncovered seven stolen vehicles at a Mooketsi scrapyard as police intensify efforts to dismantle crime syndicates.
TZANEEN – The police made a breakthrough in the fight against vehicle-related crimes following a major multi-disciplinary operation conducted in the Modjadjiskloof policing area on Wednesday, 19 November.
The Provincial Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU), together with a range of specialised police units and private sector partners, executed an intelligence-driven vehicle crime operation targeting a suspected scrapyard linked to illicit vehicle activities in Mooketsi.
The police received information about suspicious activities at a scrapyard near Modjadjiskloof, prompting a coordinated operational response.
A total of 80 vehicles were examined, resulting in seven vehicles being seized for further investigation. Of the vehicles seized, two Isuzu bakkies were reported stolen in Westenburg in February 2021, both with Gauteng registration numbers.
Others included a VW Polo that was apparently stolen in Hebron in 2023; a blue Renault Sandero that was reported stolen in Westenburg in 2021; a Ford Ranger belonging to a financial institution after the owner defaulted on instalments; a Ford Ranger, linked to a business robbery committed in Putfontein in 2023; and a white Nissan reported stolen in Thohoyandou in 2025.
During the operation, the owner of the scrapyard was not found on the premises. According to Col Malesela Ledwaba, the police have intensified efforts to trace and apprehend the owner of the business.
“All seized vehicles were confiscated for further forensic and investigative processes,” Ledwaba said.
Limpopo police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe has commended the collaborative effort:
“This successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of integrated policing and the strong partnerships we have built with the private sector. Vehicle crime syndicates continue to undermine the safety and economic stability of our communities, and we will not relent in dismantling these networks. I applaud all teams and stakeholders involved for their professionalism and commitment,” she concluded.
Investigations are continuing.
