Tebogo Msimanga |
The police in Delmas were conducting patrol duties on the N12 Road when they noticed a suspicious white Nissan NP300 single cab bakkie with two occupants. The vehicle, which had Gauteng registration number plates, looked rather strange as it appeared to be heavily loaded with something and was covered with a black canvas.
Mpumalanga Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the members then ordered its driver to stop which was followed by a search. “Surprisingly when members removed the canvas they discovered that the back of the bakkie was in actual sense, converted into a diesel tank”.
Mohlala said, as a result, two men aged 29 and 34 from Zimbabwe were questioned about the purchase of the diesel but failed to produce any proof. “They were then detained and are facing charges of being in possession of suspected stolen diesel. The 29-year-old is also facing an additional charge of contravention of the Immigration Act as he reportedly does not possess legal documents of being in South Africa”.
Mohlala added that Police in Delmas have since confiscated about 500 litres of diesel to the estimated value of about R 13 800. “To make matters worse, the members uncovered that the registration number plates displayed in the bakkie were incorrect hence the car was seized. In addition to that investigation thus far revealed that in fact, the car belongs to the SAPS in Thohoyandou, Limpopo”.
This matter is still being investigated to find out how the vehicle landed in the hands of the two Zimbabwean nationals. “More charges against the two are eminent and police cannot rule out the possibility of more arrests as the probe continues”.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela welcomed the great news.
