Belfast crackdown: Police recover stolen vehicles along N4
Police arrested suspects and recovered stolen vehicles and motorcycle parts in Belfast and along the N4 near Waterval Boven.
Mpumalanga police have arrested several suspects for the possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles and a motorcycle following intelligence-driven operations conducted along the N4 between January 8 and 11.
The first arrest took place on January 10, when police intercepted a suspected stolen vehicle in Belfast. At about 15:30, a multidisciplinary team comprising the Middelburg Flying Squad, Machadodorp Community Policing Forum, and a vehicle tracking company responded to information regarding a Toyota Fortuner with Gauteng registration plates.
With assistance from the tracking company, the vehicle, reported stolen in Wierdabrug, Centurion, Pretoria, was located on the R540 road. A chase followed, ending at the Madala location in Belfast, where the vehicle was confirmed to be stolen. The driver was arrested for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
The suspect, Murendeni Nekhubvi (30), appeared before the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on January 12 and was granted bail of R5 000. He is expected to appear in court again on February 2.
• In another incident on January 11, at approximately 14:00, the police from Waterval Boven were conducting routine patrols along the N4 between the Machado Toll Plaza and Waterval Boven. Police received information about a Mozambican-registered taxi allegedly transporting a stolen motorcycle.
Officers initiated stop-and-search operations targeting Mozambican-registered taxis. A white Toyota Quantum minibus, commonly known as a ‘Baby Quantum’, matching the description, was stopped and searched. During the inspection, police discovered stripped Big Boy motorcycle parts concealed beneath bags of potatoes on a trailer. Additional motorcycle parts were found hidden inside a black container.
Two male suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property. They were identified as Sitefane Hani Zimba (29) and Jeofris Jorge Nhuvunga (25). Preliminary investigations revealed that the motorcycle had been stolen in Protea Glen, Soweto, and the suspects were allegedly en route to Mozambique.
The suspects appeared before the Belfast Periodical Court on Monday. The matter was postponed to January 28 for legal aid applications, and both suspects were remanded in custody.
The police have commended the co-ordinated efforts of all role players and reaffirmed their commitment to tackling vehicle-related crime along major routes in Mpumalanga.
