Cape Town – Three men have been arrested after police intercepted a stolen Toyota Fortuner on the N4 near Vosman in Mpumalanga, highlighting ongoing efforts by law enforcement to disrupt vehicle theft syndicates operating along major cross‑border routes.
The arrests took place on Monday, 9 February 2026, when Mpumalanga police received a tip‑off from a Witbank detective about a white Toyota Fortuner fitted with apparently false identification details that was travelling from Pretoria towards Mozambique with Gauteng registration plates.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, a multidisciplinary team including members of the Witbank Detectives, Middelburg Flying Squad, Nkangala District Anti‑Hijacking Team, Vosman Crime Prevention and MP Tracker Connect was mobilised on the strength of that information.
“The vehicle was successfully intercepted on the N4 on‑ramp from Vosman with three occupants inside,” he said.
#sapsMP Three suspects aged between 28 and 32 were arrested on the N4 on-ramp near Vosman on 09 February 2026 for possession of a stolen motor vehicle. On Tuesday, 10 February 2026, the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) was summoned to examine the vehicle. It was… pic.twitter.com/eebFWpeKBG
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) February 11, 2026
Preliminary investigations showed that the SUV had been fitted with different identification particulars before it was stopped. “The vehicle was confiscated for further investigation, and the three occupants were arrested and charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle,” Ndubane said, as the suspects, aged between 28 and 32, awaited court appearances in the Vosman Magistrate’s Court on related charges.
The vehicle was later examined by the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) on Tuesday, which confirmed it had been reported stolen in Mooinooi in the North West Province.
Acting provincial commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi welcomed the recent arrests, saying the increased visibility of law enforcement on major routes was crucial to make it harder for syndicates to operate. “There is no longer space for criminals to operate,” Ndubane relayed on behalf of Mkhwanazi, stressing that police remain vigilant in disrupting cross‑border crime.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
