The 43-year-old police Sergeant was amongst six suspects aged between 24 and 50 years arrested for possession of suspected stolen vehicle and two hijacked truck trailers in Clewer, Emalahleni on Monday 30 January 2023.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said Middleburg Flying Squad members received information about the truck, which was hijacked in Elsburg, Gauteng, in January.

“Members followed the signal which led them to a certain plot in Clewer, Emalahleni. On the police arrival, members noticed a White Toyota Dakar next to two trailers. Upon seeing the police, six people started running to different directions. Police managed to apprehend them, and out of the six people there was a Police Sergeant stationed at Vosman SAPS as well as two Zimbabwean nationals.”

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, police further discovered that the trailers were still loaded with cooking oil estimated at about R1, 3 million and they were positively identified as the ones belonging to the reportedly hijacked truck.

“It was also established that the Toyota Dakar was reported stolen in Garsfontein in September 2017.

The truck was also found abandoned a few kilometres from the plot. Police are currently continuing with the investigation to establish if the suspects are not involved in other similar criminal activities.”

Police will further engage the Department of Home Affairs to establish the status of the two foreign nationals in the country.”

The suspects appeared at the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 01 February 2023 on charges of hijacking and possession of suspected stolen properties.