Polokwane – A 40-year-old illegal Zimbabwean national, Simon Andile Nyathi was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment by the Polokwane Regional Court yesterday August 28, 2025 for theft of the crime intelligence unit vehicle and in contravention of immigration act by the Polokwane Regional Court.

The Court trial noted that the accused, Nyathi was arrested on 04 May 2024 near one of the fuel stations along the N1 freeway near the Polokwane town.

Members of the Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team, in collaboration with Mighty Security and Tshimollo Security and Investigation, received positive information about a stolen vehicle, a 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.

Subsequent to its interception, the accused, Nyathi was arrested, and the police opened a case of theft of motor vehicle and contravention of immigration act.

The docket was assigned to Sergeant Mmalesetja Senyatsi attached to the Polokwane Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU) for further investigation.

The accused: Simon Andile Nyathi (40) was finally sentenced.

In Count 1: Theft of the motor vehicle, the accused was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment

In Count 2: Contravention of S9(3)(a) read with S1 and S49 (1)(a)of the immigration Act 13 of 2002 –The accused was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The court ordered that the sentences in count 1 and 2 will run concurrently, and the accused will serve 15 years imprisonment.

The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Police Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the sentence imposed by court and applauded the investigating officer and the arresting team for working tirelessly as that ensures that criminals are kept behind bars.