Key Points
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SANDF foils Thaba Tshwane car theft attempt.
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Five suspects arrested with two suspicious vehicles.
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Military and police coordinated swift response.
Soldiers from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) stopped a car theft attempt at Tek Base in Thaba Tshwane.
Soldiers caught all five Mamelodi suspects trying to steal civilian vehicles on May 4.
SANDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala said soldiers found a white Toyota Fortuner near the base’s engineering section.
The soldiers responded after military police shared intelligence reports.
With support from the South African Police Service (SAPS), the soldiers arrested five men at the scene. The group also had a second vehicle, a white Kia, which carried fake license discs.
Thaba Tshwane car theft suspects linked to syndicate
The discovery of the second vehicle raised suspicions. Authorities now believe the suspects may be part of a broader car theft syndicate.
SAPS Lyttelton took the arrested men into custody and impounded both vehicles. Forensic teams are inspecting them for further evidence.
Tshabalala confirmed the suspects were using the military zone as a base for their operations. “Military sites are not safe havens for criminals,” he said.
SANDF issues warning after base security breach
Rear Admiral Tshabalala praised the soldiers for their swift action. He said their quick thinking and teamwork stopped a serious crime.
He warned that SANDF will continue to enforce the law around its bases. “We protect both state and civilian property,” he said. “Anyone who commits crimes near our bases will face serious consequences.”
The Thaba Tshwane car theft plot is just one of several recent crimes targeting vehicles across South Africa. Last year, a major operation near the Lesotho border recovered multiple stolen vehicles.
