SANDF soldiers made an unusual discovery in the past week, when they dug up a stolen vehicle on a farm.

The vehicle, said to have been stolen in Lephalale, was recovered after a tip-off by another farmer in the Stockpoort area.

Spokesperson Captain Moses Semono says soldiers, accompanied by SAPS’ Vehicle Crime Detection Unit, did a thorough investigation on the said farm.

“The farmer vehemently denied that there is a vehicle, believed to have been used for criminal activities, hidden on his farm. Security forces dug until they found the vehicle, and upon digging deeper, they found an unlicensed shotgun and ammunition,” Semono adds.

The farmer was arrested and will face charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Semono says the arrest was not the only success soldiers in the province managed in the past two weeks.

Goods illegally smuggled into the country

Two men, carrying luggage on their heads, were spotted crossing the border from Zimbabwe into South Africa illegally.

When soldiers approached them they dropped the luggage and ran.

“Lieutenant Colonel N.M. Ntsieng and his team pursued the men and arrested them. Their luggage was searched and sneakers worth R748 416 were recovered. One of the men escaped from custody but was later re-arrested when he tried to claim the loot at customs at the Beitbridge Port of Entry,” Semono says.

Undocumented persons and firearms

Officials from the Border Management Authority, SAPS, traffic department and Home Affairs confiscated firearms to the value of R211 448. Their operation was conducted in Musina and Rangani village near Masisi.

“Ammunition valued at R41 800 was confiscated and 15 undocumented persons were arrested. The bus these undocumented persons were transported in, valued at R382 530, was impounded by SAPS for aiding and abetting,” he adds.

Contraceptives smuggled into SA

Contraceptive pills valued at R423 916 were confiscated near the Zimbabwean border. Semono says they believe the pills were to be illegally smuggled into the country.

“When our soldiers approached the suspects, they dropped the luggage and ran back to Zimbabwe. The pills were handed over to Beitbridge Port Health as dictated by law,” he adds.

Unauthorised movement of livestock 

Six men were arrested late at night, as they tried to move livestock worth R29 210. The movement of livestock is currently prohibited due to regulations put in place to curb the spread of foot and mouth disease.

“These men were handed over to the members of the Department of Agriculture,” Semono says.

Meanwhile, livestock valued at almost R1.5m was confiscated after it was moved from the Zimbabwean side of the border.

“Members of the Department of Agriculture checked the livestock for foot and mouth disease,” Semono says.