Police arrested a 60-year-old Mozambican national early on Sunday after they recovered a Toyota Hilux that had been reported hijacked in Nelspruit, authorities said.
Stop-and-search at toll plaza leads to arrest
Officers conducting a stop-and-search operation at the Nkomazi Toll Plaza stopped a silver Toyota Hilux double cab approaching the plaza at about 05:20 on Sunday, 27 September 2026. The vehicle was displaying Mpumalanga registration plates when officers inspected it and raised concerns about its status.
Representatives from a vehicle tracking company were called to the scene and worked with police to establish the vehicle’s history. Information retrieved from the tracking system indicated the Hilux had been hijacked in Nelspruit, police said.
“The astute members collaborated with their counterparts from a vehicle tracking company, who also arrived at the scene, and it was established that the said car had been hijacked in Nelspruit,” police said.
Following the verification, further enquiries were made to confirm the vehicle’s correct registration details. The suspect was arrested on the spot and charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. He is expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court soon, police said.
Part of wider anti‑hijacking activity
The arrest forms part of a wider police effort in the Ehlanzeni District over the weekend. The Ehlanzeni Anti‑Hijacking Task Team recovered three additional hijacked vehicles during the same period, bringing the number of recoveries reported by the provincial police to at least four.
| Operation | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Stop-and-search | Nkomazi Toll Plaza | Hilux recovered; one arrest |
| Anti‑Hijacking Task Team | Ehlanzeni District | Three additional recoveries |
Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise, the Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner, commended the collaboration between police and the tracking company, praising officers and security personnel for their swift response during the recoveries.
Practical implications for motorists and victims
The incident highlights the role of routine road policing and public–private collaboration in disrupting vehicle crime. Tracking systems can provide rapid confirmation of a vehicle’s status, aiding front-line officers to act decisively at points of entry and exit to the province such as toll plazas.
Motorists are reminded to take precautions to reduce the risk of vehicle hijacking and theft:
- Maintain visible and functional vehicle tracking or recovery systems where available;
- Lock doors and keep windows up in high‑risk areas or at night;
- Report suspicious behaviour or unknown vehicles to SAPS immediately; and
- If a vehicle is stolen, report the matter swiftly to the nearest police station and provide tracking details to assist recovery.
Victims awaiting updates on the recovered Hilux and the three additional vehicles should contact their local police stations for information about the progress of investigations and the process for reclaiming recovered vehicles, where applicable.
What this means for policing in Mpumalanga
Recoveries such as these underline the importance of targeted operations by specialised units like the Anti‑Hijacking Task Team. They also demonstrate the value of cooperation with private-sector security services to verify vehicle origins and status on the roadside.
Authorities did not provide further details about the circumstances of the original hijacking in Nelspruit, the identities of any victims, or if the arrested man will face any additional charges pending further investigation.
Police investigations remain ongoing and updates will be provided by SAPS as matters progress through the criminal justice system.
