A 40-year-old suspect, who has been on the run for the past seven years after allegedly stealing materials he was supposed to deliver to clients, was nabbed on Monday, August 15, after he visited the Bethal Police Station to make enquiries about his application for a police recruitment drive.

The suspect is expected to appear in Bethal Magistrate’s Court today, Tuesday, August 16.

According to information received, the suspect was supposed to make a hardware material delivery worth more R20 000.

It is alleged that the said material was redirected to another address without either the owner’s concern or knowledge.

A week later, the suspect’s dirty tricks were uncovered after the manager decided to check invoices.

The manager came to learn that two invoices were missing and other materials were being delivered to the wrong addresses.

A case of theft was opened in September 2015 at Bethal police station after the matter was reported.

Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, who is the Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Mpumalanga, has taken the opportunity of the arrest to warn offenders who are still on the run from authorities that police are closing all the nets for them and they will soon be arrested.

“We are working tirelessly day and night, sticking to our mandate of creating a safe environment for all citizens.

“We cannot achieve that stage whilst other suspects are still roaming the streets and terrorizing the communities. It is just a matter of time before we bring them to justice,” said Manamela.