A man has been sentenced to 19 years imprisonment by the Musina Regional Court in Limpopo for stealing six vehicles from a car dealership in Phalaborwa in 2017.
Tsununu Maphosa and five other suspects broke into a dealership and stole four bakkies and four SUVs. Five of the vehicles were recovered in Masisi before crossing the Limpopo river into Zimbabwe.
The drivers fled the scene, but Maphosa was arrested in the village while trying to flee. He has been in custody since his arrest in 2017.
Meanwhile, the suspected mastermind of the group, Sibusiso Tshabalala was later arrested in Gauteng and was released on bail. A warrant of arrest has been issued after he absconded.
Car smuggling remains a thorny issue for communities along SA borderlines:
