In what the police in the Mopani area regard as a major breakthrough, a resident of Senwamokgopi Village in the Sekgosese area, William Malaka (59), briefly appeared in the Sekgosese Magistrate’s court last Friday on charges of car theft.

Supt Moatshe Ngoepe, the spokesperson for the police in the area, said that the members of the SAPS vehicle identification unit had reacted on a tip-off from local residents early last week. Ngoepe stated that the concerned community members informed the police that they had seen some of the vehicles that had been reported stolen at a local scrapyard.

A contingent of police officers was sent to raid the Vaalwater Auto Scrap Yard last Wednesday morning, according to the police statement. In the process, the police recovered 21 stolen vehicles. The recovered vehicles were grouped as 13 Toyota bakkies, 4 Datsun 1400 bakkies, 1 Colt bakkie, 2 Isuzu bakkies and 1 Toyota Venture.

Supt Ngoepe said that some of the recovered vehicles were reported stolen in Gauteng. The value of the recovered stolen vehicles is estimated at R1,5 million. Mr Malaka was not asked to plead when he appeared in court last Friday.

He will appear in the same court on the 16th of next month. He will be in custody until his next court date as his bail application was turned down. According to Supt Ngoepe, the police are expecting to make more arrests soon in connection with the case.