POLOKWANE – Two male suspects Siphiwe Sigasa (31) and Simphiwe Dhladhla (32) have been arrested for cases of possession of presumed stolen motor vehicles.

Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said that the duo appeared before Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (June 25) where their case was postponed until July 7 for formal bail application.

Both suspects were arrested during an anti-smuggling operation conducted between Sunday and Monday (June 23-24) in the Capricorn District.

This was after members of the Limpopo SAPS Provincial Anti-Smuggling Task Team and Capricorn District Flying Squad received a tip-off about two vehicles that were going to be smuggled out of the country, presumably to Zimbabwe, through the Beitbridge port of entry.

The teams responded to the tip-off where Ledwaba said the vehicles, a grey Toyota Fortuner 2.8 and a white Toyota Hilux Gd6 double cab, were spotted driving along the R71 towards Polokwane.

“Both vehicles were fitted with false registration number plates and false license discs. Upon request, the drivers were unable to produce valid documentation for the vehicles. The suspects were then immediately arrested,” said Ledwaba.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that both cars had been reported stolen that Saturday (June 22) in Muldersdrift and Pretoria.”

The combined value of the vehicles is estimated at R1.6 million.