A 60-year-old Mozambican national has been arrested after police allegedly found him in possession of a Toyota Hilux that had been hijacked in Nelspruit.
The suspect was arrested at the Nkomazi Toll Plaza in Mpumalanga at about 05.20am on Sunday, September 27, 2026, during a police stop-and-search operation.
Police said officers were conducting operations at the toll plaza when they spotted a silver Toyota Hilux double cab approaching and stopped it for inspection.
The vehicle was displaying Mpumalanga registration plates.
Tracking company helps police identify hijacked vehicle
Police said officers worked with representatives from a vehicle tracking company who arrived at the scene and assisted in establishing the status of the vehicle.
“The astute members collaborated with their counterparts from a vehicle tracking company, who also arrived at the scene, and it was established that the said car had been hijacked in Nelspruit,” police said.
Further investigations were conducted to establish the vehicle’s correct registration details.
Police said the information retrieved confirmed that the Hilux had been hijacked in Nelspruit and that a criminal case had already been opened in connection with the vehicle.
“The suspect was arrested on the spot and charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle,” police said
He is expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court soon.
Three more hijacked vehicles recovered
The arrest came during a weekend in which police recovered several other hijacked vehicles in Mpumalanga.
“Meanwhile, three other hijacked vehicles were successfully recovered around the Ehlanzeni District by the Ehlanzeni Anti-Hijacking Task Team over the weekend,” police said.
The recoveries bring to at least four the number of hijacked vehicles police said were recovered in the district.
Provincial commissioner praises joint operations
Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise commended police officers and security personnel from the tracking company for working together in the recovery of stolen and hijacked vehicles.
Police said Modise praised them “for their swift response and continued collaborative efforts to recover hijacked and stolen vehicles in the province”.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za
