Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A 38-YEAR-OLD Zimbabwean and a 40-year-old Malawian have been arrested in Limpopo Province, South Africa, as security authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa continue to collaborate in fighting cross-border crime.
The two were found driving a stolen Toyota Corolla worth R600 000 that was being transported to Zimbabwe.
It is believed the suspects are part of syndicates involving South Africans, Batswana, Basotho, Mozambicans, Malawians and Zimbabweans who are stealing vehicles for the export markets.
In some cases, security authorities say the vehicles are being sold by their owners in insurance fraud schemes, where they (owners) report them as stolen and claim money from insurance companies.
It is understood that in most cases these cars are being driven to illegal crossing points by South Africans, who then hand them over to other nationalities, depending on the exit border from that country.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson for Limpopo province, Colonel Malasela Ledwaba, said the two were arrested on Sunday near Polokwane along the N1 highway.
“The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has praised the multi-disciplinary teams for their swift response, which led to the interception of the reported stolen vehicle and the subsequent arrest of two suspects on Sunday, November 30, 2025,” said Col Ledwaba.
“The SAPS Limpopo Tracking Team, joined by the external law enforcement, Shadow Secure Security, Tshimollo Security and Investigation, as well as Tracker SA, were involved in an anti-smuggling operation on Sunday morning.
“They received an Intelligence about a stolen motor vehicle that was being driven from Gauteng Province to Beitbridge via the N1 freeway.
“The ever alert operational team kept an observation and the vehicle fitting the description was seen on N1 north of Polokwane, next to the Mall of the North”.
He said the operational team then stopped the vehicle and preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was stolen in Pretoria Central, leading to the arrest of the Malawian and Zimbabwean.
Col Ledwaba said a case of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle was opened in Polokwane and the suspects will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court today.
