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Police in the OR Tambo District have intensified their fight against crime, resulting in the recovery of two suspected stolen vehicles and an unlicensed firearm, as well as the arrest of a 40-year-old woman in separate operations.
In one incident, multidisciplinary teams comprising Mthatha FCS, Crime Prevention, and the District Task Team conducted a tracing operation in Chris Hani Park, Mthatha, on Monday, 6 April 2026 afternoon. The operation was aimed at locating a wanted suspect linked to a sexual assault case.
During the search, officers discovered the suspect’s alleged girlfriend in possession of an unlicensed 9mm Norinco pistol with two rounds of live ammunition. Further investigation revealed that the firearm had been reported stolen in a 2018 case in Polokwane. The woman was immediately arrested and is expected to appear before the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In a separate case, Qumbu Crime Prevention members recovered a hijacked 2026 Isuzu truck valued at approximately R1.2 million. The truck had been hijacked by three-armed suspects along the N2 near Tsolo while en route to Durban. It was later found abandoned in Makoti locality under the Tabankulu policing precinct, with minor damage.
Meanwhile, Sulenkama police recovered a white Isuzu D-Max bakkie abandoned in the Maqhubini Administrative Area. The vehicle was linked to a carjacking reported in Kei Mouth in March.
OR Tambo District Commissioner, Major General Norman Modishana, praised officers for their dedication and teamwork in tackling crime.
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