Zimpapers Logo

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
South African authorities have arrested a 40-year-old man for smuggling a suspected stolen Caterpillar grader from the neighbouring country into Zimbabwe through Beitbridge Border Post.

The man, whose identity is yet to be established, was reportedly arrested at the port of entry (South Africa side) on Tuesday while trying to acquire a clearance certificate for the earth moving equipment without proper documents.

Limpopo police spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said the suspect was arrested during a joint intelligence operation dubbed “Vala Madi” (close the waters).

He said the man will soon appear before a Musina Magistrate Court

“The intelligence-driven joint operation Vala Madi comprised of the Musina Crime Prevention Unit, the Cluster Task Team and the Border Policing Unit, yielded positive and meaningful results,” Col Ngoepe said.

“During this operation, a 40-year-old man was arrested in possession of a suspected stolen Caterpillar vehicle. He was apprehended while trying to acquire a clearance certificate without proper documentation and failed to account for the origin of the caterpillar and its owner.

“The arrest was made at the Beitbridge Port of Entry while the suspect was trying to cross from South Africa to Zimbabwe”.

Col Ngoepe said preliminary investigations revealed that the grader was reportedly stolen in the Apel Policing Area outside Lebowakgomo.

He said during the same operation, they also recovered a Ford Ranger pick-up truck abandoned in the bushes along the South African and Zimbabwean borderline outside Musina.

He said the vehicle was allegedly stolen at Ga-Rankuwa location in the Gauteng Province.

“There is no arrest in this matter,” he said.

The developments come a few days after Zimbabwean police said they were jointly working with the South Africans in cracking syndicates which steal vehicles from the neighbouring country and smuggle them into Zimbabwe via the Limpopo River.

National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were conducting joint investigations following the recovery of a BMW3201 series which was recently recovered in Beitbridge town.

He said the car worth R320 000, which was stolen from South Africa and smuggled into Zimbabwe, was tracked to Mashakada Business Centre using a satellite device.

“We have one person in our custody who is claiming that he bought the motor vehicle from a third party,” said Asst Comm Nyathi. “However, we are conducting joint investigations with SAPS to establish circumstances around this case.”

Asst Comm Nyathi said police were employing a number of strategies to crack vehicle theft and smuggling syndicates between Zimbabwe and South Africa. He warned members of the public from entering into clandestine cross border transaction to avoid unnecessary situations.

“It is advisable for people to verify issues with authorities, especially on matters where cross border transactions are involved,” he said.

The smuggling of stolen cars via Zimbabwe from South Africa is rife with authorities from both countries having recovered over 40 vehicles along their boundary in the last 12 months.

It is also reported that some of these syndicates are linked to security personnel manning the border and officials, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and the Central Vehicle Registry.

The officials are alleged to be facilitating the smuggling and registration processes.