Police put brakes on Mandla Mandela's stolen Land Cruiser being smuggled to Zimbabwe

Limpopo police have thwarted an attempt to smuggle a Land Cruiser belonging to former South African MP Mandla Mandela across the border into Zimbabwe.

Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe commended the swift response of the members of anti-smuggling task team.

“The vehicle, stolen on Thursday afternoon at a parking lot in Menlyn Mall in Pretoria, was on its way to being smuggled into Zimbabwe when the suspect was apprehended later in the evening in Lebowakgomo policing area outside Polokwane,” said SAPS.

“A 42-year-old Zimbabwean national was charged with possession of a presumed stolen motor vehicle and contravention of the Immigration Act after it was established that he was in the country illegally.”

The vehicle new cost between R1.5m and R2.1m.

Mandela told sister publication DispatchLIVE: “We express gratitude and gratefulness to the Almighty for the recovery of our vehicle ... The phenomenon of vehicle theft, kidnappings, and hijackings that have proliferated over the past few years poses serious challenges for our safety and security and results in so much emotional trauma.

“We must all work together with law enforcement and all in the security cluster to make South Africa safer for all,” he said.

The 42-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Polokwane magistrate's court on August 12.

TimesLIVE