More nights in jail for SANDF members suspected of smuggling cars
It is alleged that the SANDF members would demand R15,000 per vehicle from the car smugglers, and the money would be shared.
PRETORIA, June 24 (ANA) – Seven serving members of the South African National Defence Force are in police custody after they were arrested for allegedly helping syndicates to smuggle stolen cars to Zimbabwe via the Limpopo River.
“Rapula Reuben Maidi, 49, from Ikageng, Edward Lepokola, 48, from Sebokeng, Bulelani Danti, 29, from King William’s Town, Ludwe Gwedashe from Port Elizabeth, Thembani Mjelo, 31, from East London, Marks Funeka, 49, from Carletonville, Peter Thato Namane, 51, from Soshanguve, all members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) appeared in Musina Magistrate’s Court (on Wednesday) after they were arrested on 21 and 22 June 2021 for allegedly crossing smuggled vehicles to Zimbabwe,” said Limpopo spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.
It is alleged that the SANDF members would demand R15,000 (about US$1,000) per vehicle that would be shared among themselves.
The NPA said that, after receiving payment, the SANDF members deployed to protect South Africa’s borders would allow stolen vehicles to cross the border to Zimbabwe.
“The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) received information about SANDF members who are assisting vehicle-smuggling syndicates to smuggle suspected stolen vehicles through the Limpopo River,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
She said the SANDF members were arrested along the Limpopo River, which borders South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“The Hawks and the military proceeded with the undercover operation and the suspects were consequently arrested at Musina along the Limpopo River. The SANDF members were immediately arrested by the military police,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
Earlier this month, two members of the SANDF were arrested for allegedly transporting illicit cigarettes across the border using an SANDF vehicle.
Police spokesperson in Limpopo Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the two members were arrested along with a 30-year-old undocumented foreign national.
He said police at Beitbridge received information about an army vehicle loaded with illicit cigarettes that were to be delivered to an unidentified buyer around Musina.
“They then reacted by staging a stop-and-search operation next to the Baobab Truck Park along the N1 road north of Musina. The army vehicle fitting the description given approached and the members pulled it over,” Mojapelo said.
The soldiers and a civilian wearing an army jacket alighted from the vehicle, which was then searched and 12 boxes of illicit cigarettes were found.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher