It is alleged that in December 2025, a case of theft was reported by a complainant at Nkandla Police Station. In January 2026, the same complainant opened another case at Newark Police Station relating to the use of property without the owner’s consent.

The cases were later linked to the theft of heavy duty construction machines from a construction site in Nkandla. It was subsequently discovered that the same machines were being used in Newark.

KwaZulu Natal SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said members of the Provincial Reaction Unit and the Empangeni Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit received information about the location where the machines were being stored and utilised.

“On Tuesday, 17 February 2026, an operation was conducted at a quarry in Newark where two excavators and one TLB machine were recovered. The recovered property is estimated to be valued at R50 million. The suspect was not present during the operation and remained at large,” said Magwaza.

He added that on Saturday, 21 March 2026, the complainant opened additional cases at Kombe Police Station including extortion, theft of a motor vehicle and using property without the owner’s consent. These cases relate to the theft of a truck from a construction site as well as alleged demands for money from the complainant.

“The suspect in this matter is the same individual linked to the Nkandla and Newark cases,” Magwaza confirmed.

Following further investigations and tracing operations, the suspect was arrested at Ekombe by members of the Empangeni Public Order Police. A truck was also recovered during the arrest.

The suspect has been charged with theft, extortion, possession of suspected stolen property and using property without the owner’s consent. He is expected to appear before the Nkandla Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 24 March 2026.

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