SA HIJACKING SYNDICATE: REPS RECOVERS 4 CARS IN EZULWINI

MBABANE - In a significant breakthrough, the police have recovered four top-of-the-range hijacked vehicles, thanks to a tip-off from an anonymous informant.

Following police investigations, it was discovered that the vehicles were allegedly linked to the matter where a 37-year-old liSwati was arrested by officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS), Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), last week. The informant is said to have called the police after seeing Eswatini registration plates matching the description of one of the cars at a garage displayed in a previous edition of the Times of Eswatini, following the arrest made by SAPS.
Acting swiftly on the information, officers from Lukhozi raided the garage in Ezulwini and discovered the hidden cars.

Investigations

The discovered cars are a Ford Ranger, BMW X3, BMW 320 and a Renault.The suspect is known to this publication, but cannot be revealed as investigations are ongoing. Investigations by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) revealed that the cars found at the garage were allegedly hijacked in South Africa and smuggled into the country. The cars are currently kept at Lobamba Police Station. The garage owner confirmed that the cars were towed by the police on suspicion that they were stolen. He said the cars were brought to the garage sometime back.

He explained that the cars were brought to him for engine and gearbox repairs. When asked if he knew that the vehicles were stolen, he said he did not know anything, but was assisting a customer with his cars. The garage owner explained that he did not ask if a car was stolen or not when assisting a customer.Adding, he mentioned that he called the owners about what had transpired and they said they would visit the police themselves. In the initial matter, the operation was initiated after the team of officers from SAPS  received information about a syndicate that allegedly hijacks and steals vehicles in South Africa and smuggles them into Eswatini. Acting on this intelligence, the team raided a house in Kibler Park, south of Johannesburg. ‍Upon arrival, the police are said to have also discovered four vehicles in the yard: a Toyota Fortuner reportedly hijacked in Jeppe, an Isuzu bakkie hijacked in Heidelberg, a tampered BMW, and a Land Rover Discovery.

It was said that these findings were vital in linking the vehicles to the hijacking operations. Meanwhile, Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that four cars were found at the garage in Ezulwini and investigations were ongoing. During the arrest of the liSwati by the SAPS, inside the house where he was found, the police discovered various tools and documents pointing to the syndicate’s operations. Police found multiple Eswatini registration plates, car registration documents from Eswatini, homemade vehicle identification numbers (VINs), and stencils used for printing the VINs.

Items

These items are reportedly vital in establishing the extent of the illegal activities. In a statement issued by SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Masondo, stated that the 37-year-old liSwati, who was present in the house, was arrested and charged with possession of hijacked motor vehicles.  Lieutenant Colonel Masondo indicated that more arrests were imminent as the investigation continues to unfold. In another case, a week ago, there was an exchange of gunfire at Shewula, as members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) recovered four vehicles, with South African registration numbers, which were in the process of being smuggled into Mozambique. The vehicles were a white Toyota Prado registration CTJ 015 MP, white Toyota Fortuner registered KXN 571 MP, white Prado registered KVF 938 MP and a maroon Toyota Legend, with plate number KNF 329 MP.

The individuals who are suspected to be part of the hijacking syndicate operating between South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique, reportedly fled the scene, leaving behind the exhibits. Meanwhile, around March, soldiers manning the borderline recovered two cars, a Toyota Prado valued at E600 000 and a Toyota Fortuner valued at E600 000. Both cars had South African registration plates and were allegedly being smuggled into the country. The duo of Mciniseli Matimba (48) of Siyendle and Vusi Jele (45) of Zombodze were apprehended by soldiers as they allegedly tried to drive into the country. One car (Prado) had already been smuggled into the country as it was found around Sidwala.  It was stolen on March 22, 2024, while the Fortuner was stolen on March 24, 2024 and was discovered around Sicunusa.

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