A 35 YEAR OLD IS SENTENCED TO TWELVE YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR CONTRAVENTION OF IMMIGRATION ACT AND POSSESSION OF STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE
POLOKWANE:Mankweng Magistrate’s Court sentenced a 36 year old foreign national to Twelve years imprisonment Mankweng Magistrate Court for Contravention of Immigration Act and possession of stolen motor vehicle on Friday 27 February 2026.
The sentencing emanates from a well-coordinated anti-smuggling operation that was conducted on Wednesday, 27 August 2025 at Solomondale, Sebayeng policing area in Capricorn district and resulted in the recovery of a stolen motor vehicle, a white Toyota Prado VX, valued at R900 000.00
The operation involved the Limpopo Tracking Team, Limpopo ProvincialInvestigationsUnit, working alongside External law enforcement Tshimollo Security and Investigation Shadow Secure security.
Intelligence was received about a stolen Toyota Prado VX, which was stolen in Gauteng Province and was going to be smuggled into Zimbabwe. The operational team kept observation and collected information, and the vehicle was spotted driving on R71 towards Mankweng.
The team tried to stop the vehicle but the driver, Kenias Chimbwanda sped off towards Solomondale.
The team gave chase, and the Prado crashed near the Solomondale railway line, colliding with the local principal’s motor vehicle.
The car was intercepted in the bushes near R81. Investigations revealed that the vehicle was reported stolen at Lyttelton policing area in Pretoria on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, at about 9:00 am.
The 35 year-old male accused was arrested and Sergeant Junior Rachidi attached to the Provincial Tracking Team worked tirelessly to ensure that the accused remained in police custody while appearing before the Mankweng magistrate court.
He was imminently sentenced for 02 years of imprisonment for the Contravention of Immigration Act and 10 years imprisonment for possession of stolen motor vehicle.
The court also ordered that the sentences would run concurrently.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, applauded the conviction and sentencing and emphasized the effectiveness of cooperation in combating cross-border vehicle smuggling and the justice system.
