By Agencies

SOUTH AFRICA: A 36-year-old Zimbabwean man, Cosmos Ndou, has been jailed for an effective eight years by the Mokopane Regional Court in South Africa for trying to drive a stolen vehicle across the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe.

The case follows after Limpopo police intensified efforts to crack down on cars stolen in South Africa, so they can besmuggled into Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

SA Police Services spokesperson for Limpopo, Colonel Malasela Ledwaba, said:  “The convictions and subsequent sentencing comes after the court heard that on September 18, the accused was found in possession of a bronze Toyota Fortuner.”

It had been reported as stole in Brooklyn, Gauteng.

“Police arrested the suspect after a security company in Mookgopong (formerly Naboomspruit) was alerted by a vehicle tracking company to be on the lookout for the stolen vehicle.”

It had been tracked driving north on the R101.

“The security company stopped the vehicle and alerted the police who arrested the driver,” Ledwaba said.

Ndou was sentenced to six years for possession of the stolen vehicle and two years for violating immigration laws.

Although it’s often quite easy to cross the Limpopo by car, especially a high-clearance 4X4, motorists against leaving South Africa illegally.

Following heavy rain across the Highveld, the Limpopo rises out west on the border of Botswana and is fed by swollen rivers such as the Marico and Crocodile.

When in flood, the Limpopo is one of the most dangerous rivers in South Africa.