Vehicles used for cash-in-transit heist recovered in Jozini

The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) has applauded a recent joint operation conducted by soldiers of 5 South African Infantry Battalion and members of the Jozini SA Police Services‚ where several stolen vehicles were recovered.

The operation, carried out on Thursday last week at KwaJobe Village, yielded the intended results when the forces recovered a double cab bakkie with an estimated value of R720 000.00, in the bushes.

SANDF also reported that on 13 January 2023, soldiers received a tip-off about a suspected stolen minibus.

“It was discovered that the vehicle had a fake registration, fake license disk and its original engine was replaced. The driver and four suspects were apprehended and taken to Jozini Police Station.

“On the same day, another stolen vehicle was recovered by the SA National Defence Force and the South African Police Services. The [vehicle] was intercepted between Jozini and Nongoma,” it said.

Further investigations indicated that the vehicle was stolen in Pretoria last year. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and taken to Pongola South African Police Services, SANDF reported.

In a different incident, the same collaborative efforts led to the recovery of a luxury sedan abandoned in the area.

According to the investigation, items found inside the vehicle were keys of the vehicle still in the ignition, 1 x ak47 round and 2 x r5 rifle rounds cartridges.

Police say the recovered vehicles were linked to a cash-in-transit heist that took place at Jozini Mall on 12 January 2023.