Two young women, aged just 19 and 20, have landed behind bars after police intercepted them with a stolen Toyota Hilux GD-6 on its way to Zimbabwe. The vehicle, stolen in Pretoria East, was reportedly en route to be smuggled across the Beitbridge border when authorities stepped in.
According to Limpopo police, the dramatic arrest happened near the Polokwane weighbridge on the R101. During the operation, a male suspect abandoned the vehicle and ran into nearby bushes. The two women tried to flee on foot, but officers chased them down and took them into custody.
The suspects, Lerato Pertunia Mosoge (20) and Makhanani Mmolawa (19), appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court and are facing charges of possessing a suspected stolen vehicle. They were denied bail and remain in custody as police continue to profile them. Their case is expected to return to court next Tuesday.
Initial investigations confirmed that the bakkie was reported stolen on May 16 in Garsfontein, Pretoria.
In a separate but similar case, police also arrested a 31-year-old man, Mikael Mlambo, who was caught driving a stolen Toyota Corolla Cross toward Beitbridge. He too was remanded in custody, with his court appearance scheduled for Monday.
Police suspect that both cases may be connected to a larger cross-border vehicle smuggling network that has targeted Gauteng in recent months.