By Rex Mphisa
A 40-year-old Zimbabwean Simon Andile Nyathi has been jailed by a South African court for 15 years for theft of a police motor vehicle and contravention of immigration act by being in that country illegally.
Nyathi appeared in the Polokwane Regional Court on Tuesday, 26 August 2025.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS) press and liaison office, the Court noted that the accused was arrested on May 4, 2024 near one of the fuel stations situated along N1 freeway and has been in custody ever since.
“Members of Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team, in collaboration with Mighty Security and Tshimollo Security and Investigation, received positive information about a stolen vehicle: silver Isuzu double cab 4×4. The vehicle belonged to the SAPS Crime Intelligence Unit, and it was reported stolen in Soshanguwe, Gauteng province, on 02 May 2024,” a SAPS statement signed by Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said.
After interception the accused was arrested, and police opened a case of theft of motor vehicle and contravention of immigration act.
For theft of the car Nyathi was sentenced to fifteen (15) years imprisonment while his contravention of the Immigration Act attracted a two year term.
The court however ordered that both sentences run concurrently and the accused will effectively serve for 15 years. Meanwhile Car Track reports that vehicle theft is a very concerning crime in South Africa, one that many have fallen victim with many cars stolen everyday.
Car thieves target certain types of vehicles for different purposes and of late they have been hitting on all-terrain cars from twin-cabs to Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) driven to other countries for resale.
SUVs are mostly stolen to use their parts on other vehicles, parts like engines and exhaust systems. They are also sometimes resold to make more money.
Car thieves are also known to target sedan or saloon vehicles used in e-hailing services because they are always on the road and can easily blend in after being stolen.
High-speed hatchbacks are mainly stolen to be used to carry out other crimes, such as armed robberies, because of their ease in getaways being able to reach speeds of 120 km/h in a short period.