VALDEZIA – The police of Waterval made a breakthrough in the alleged theft of macadamia nuts in the area, when they arrested a man in possession of 14 bags (50 kg each) of nuts last Wednesday.

According to the Waterval communication officer, Insp Maano Sadike, the police found a man driving a white Toyota bakkie with the macadamia nuts in the Valdezia area. The man failed to give them a clear answer in connection with the nuts, he said.

According to Sadike, the Police are still investigating the possibilities as to whether the nuts were stolen at the Levubu farms. He said that the man, Sydney Makaukau (52) had already appeared in the Waterval Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (8 July) and the case was postponed to August 28, 2004.

Sadike said that the suspect is in custody after he failed to raise the R1 000 bail. “The macadamia nuts are estimated to have a street value of R50 000. As we were continuing with our investigations, the suspect gave us more information that led us to arrest two more suspects, aged 30, at Valdezia on July 12,” he said.