A multidisciplinary law enforcement operation led by members of the Provincial Anti-Hijacking Task Team in Ehlanzeni successfully recovered a hijacked Ford Ranger in the Nkomazi area on May 14.

The operation, which took place at about 21:00, brought together several agencies, including the Provincial Anti-Hijacking Task Team, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Tonga Visible Policing (Vispol) and a private vehicle tracking company.

According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe, authorities were conducting routine tracking operations when they received information about a grey Ford Ranger with Gauteng registration plates that had allegedly been hijacked in the Mbombela area.

“The information was immediately acted upon, and the tracking company confirmed that the device fitted in the vehicle was still active,” Nonyane-Mpe said.

Further intelligence indicated that the vehicle was moving within the Nkomazi policing area, specifically near Mbuzini, a region close to the borders of the Kingdom of Eswatini and Mozambique. Police suspected the vehicle was being transported for possible cross-border smuggling.
Law enforcement officers swiftly mobilised and proceeded to the identified location. Upon arrival at Mananga Village, they discovered the vehicle abandoned in the middle of the road.
Officers approached the vehicle with caution, but no suspects were found at the scene and the keys were missing.

“The owner of the vehicle was contacted and later positively identified the recovered Ford Ranger. The vehicle was subsequently transported to the police station for safekeeping and further investigation,” Nonyane-Mpe added.
She added that police have not yet made any arrests and investigations into the hijacking and attempted smuggling are ongoing. Authorities reiterated their commitment to combatting vehicle-related crimes, particularly in regions known for cross-border criminal activity.