Polokwane, Limpopo – December 1, 2025 – Authorities from the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo arrested two foreign nationals on Sunday, November 30, 2025, following the interception of a stolen vehicle along the N1 North highway near the Mall of the North in Polokwane. The operation, which targeted vehicle smuggling activities, resulted in the recovery of a Toyota Corolla Cross GR valued at approximately R600,000.
The arrests occurred during a coordinated anti-smuggling effort initiated early that morning. Members of the SAPS Limpopo Tracking Team, in collaboration with private security firms Shadowsecure Security and Tshimollo Security and Investigation, as well as vehicle recovery specialists from Tracker SA, acted on intelligence indicating that a stolen vehicle was en route from Gauteng Province toward the Beitbridge Port of Entry via the N1 freeway.
According to police reports, the operational team established surveillance along the highway based on the description of the suspect vehicle. Continuous monitoring led to the positive identification of the Toyota Corolla Cross GR matching the alert. The vehicle was spotted traveling northbound on the N1, directly adjacent to the Mall of the North, a prominent shopping destination in the area.
Officers promptly executed a traffic stop on the vehicle. Preliminary checks conducted at the scene confirmed that the Toyota Corolla Cross had been reported stolen earlier in Pretoria Central, the administrative heart of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng. The theft case originated from a incident in the densely populated urban district, where the vehicle was taken without authorization.
Inside the vehicle were two adult male suspects: a 38-year-old Zimbabwean national and a 43-year-old Malawian national. Both individuals were detained without resistance and taken into custody on charges of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. Further investigations at the Polokwane police station verified the vehicle’s stolen status through cross-referencing with national databases.
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commended the joint task force for their vigilance and rapid response. In a statement released on Monday, she highlighted the importance of such operations in disrupting cross-border vehicle theft syndicates. “Our teams maintained continuous observation and successfully located the vehicle, demonstrating the value of intelligence-led policing in protecting public assets,” Hadebe said. She emphasized that the recovery prevents the vehicle from potentially being exported across the border, a common endpoint for stolen cars in the region.
The N1 highway, a vital arterial route connecting Gauteng to Limpopo and onward to Zimbabwe via Beitbridge, has been a focal point for vehicle-related crimes in recent years. Police data indicates that Limpopo Province records hundreds of motor vehicle thefts annually, with a significant portion linked to organized networks aiming to smuggle high-value vehicles northward. The Toyota Corolla Cross GR, a compact crossover SUV known for its sporty GR Sport trim featuring enhanced performance elements like a turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive capability, represents the type of mid-range luxury vehicle frequently targeted by these groups.
The suspects’ nationalities align with patterns observed in prior cases along the same corridor. In August 2025, the Polokwane Regional Court sentenced a 40-year-old individual to 15 years’ imprisonment for motor vehicle theft and immigration violations after a similar interception on the N1. Earlier in the year, a 22-year-old driver was arrested near the Mall of the North with a hijacked Ford Ranger valued at R1.5 million, also bound for the border. These incidents underscore the ongoing challenge of transnational vehicle crime, often involving syndicates that exploit porous border points.
A case of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle has been registered at the Polokwane Police Station under the docket for further investigation. Detectives from the SAPS Vehicle Crime Unit will probe potential links to broader theft rings, including the original hijacking in Pretoria Central. No additional charges, such as immigration violations or driving without valid licenses, have been confirmed at this stage, pending verification of the suspects’ documentation.
The two men are scheduled to make their first court appearance before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Proceedings will focus on the possession charge, with the possibility of bail considerations based on the flight risk associated with cross-border elements. The recovered vehicle has been impounded as evidence and will be returned to its rightful owner following forensic processing.
This interception marks a proactive step in SAPS Limpopo’s broader strategy to combat vehicle crime, which includes enhanced patrols, public tip-off lines, and partnerships with recovery firms. Residents and motorists are encouraged to report suspicious activities along major routes like the N1 to the SAPS Crime Stop hotline at 08600 10111. As investigations continue, authorities anticipate further disclosures that may connect this case to ongoing smuggling operations in the province.
