The past two weeks was a busy but successful period for the 7 South African Infantry Battalion soldiers who are currently deployed in the Mpumalanga Province. The SA National Defence Force soldiers from Phalaborwa once again showed their
effectiveness by recovering three stolen vehicles as well as confiscating 20 Rolls of Dagga to the value of R 1 315 050.00.
A stolen 2021 Toyota Hilux Legend 50 (White) to the value of R600 000.00 was recovered in the Steenbok area in the Macadamia area of responsibility after a joint effort by the SA National Defence Force soldiers and the Tonga South African Police Service. The vehicle was cornered next to Steenbok Village graveyard whereafter the driver, a 31-year-old male from Witbank, fled into a nearby house. The suspect was pointed out by members of the local community and then arrested by the South African Police Service. The suspect and vehicle were taken to Tonga Police Station.
Later that evening an orange coloured 2020 Toyota Legend 50, valued at R600 000.00 was intercepted by a joint team consisting of South African National Defence Force soldiers deployed in the Macadamia area, a member of the Crime Intelligence South African Police Service Komatipoort, and a member from Tracker Connect vehicle tracking company. The stolen vehicle was intercepted deep in the bushes outside Dludluma Village as it was making its way towards the South Africa/Mozambique borderline. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into the surrounding bushes. The vehicle was handed over to Komatipoort South African Police Station.
Another vehicle success in the Macadamia area of responsibility was reported with the recovery of a gold-coloured 2017 Ford Ranger valued at R 400 000.00. The vehicle was spotted during a patrol by SA National Defence Force soldiers as it tried to cross the South Africa/Mozambique border fence in the Dludluma Village area. As the soldiers approached, the driver and co-driver fled the scene and abandoned the vehicle where it became stuck in a ditch. The vehicle was reportedly stolen in Rustenburg.
The Zonstraal area of responsibility, which entails the South Africa /Eswatini border delivered the biggest success in terms of monetary value with the confiscation of R 1 315 050.00 worth of Dagga weighing in at 438.35 KG. The dagga was discovered during routine vehicle patrols conducted by the South African National Defence Force soldiers deployed in the Nerston area. The soldiers noticed a heavily loaded Toyota Hilux single Cab and became suspicious when the vehicle sped up after noticing the South African National Defence Force patrol vehicle. A chase pursuit led to the driver of the Hilux stopping, fleeing on foot into the thick nearby bushes and abandoning the vehicle. The vehicle was impounded by the Amsterdam South African Police Service pending further investigation.
Information by Lieutenant A.S. Frantz Joint Tactical Headquarters Mpumalanga and Photographs by 7 SA Infantry Battalion Ops Room.