A 63-year-old man has been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal following a string of serious crimes linked to stolen construction equipment worth an estimated R50 million.
The suspect was apprehended at Ekombe after months on the run. His arrest follows investigations into cases first reported in Nkandla in December 2025 and later in Newark in early 2026.
Police say heavy-duty machinery, including two excavators and a TLB, was stolen from a construction site in Nkandla and later traced to a quarry in Newark. A joint operation by the Provincial Reaction Unit and the Empangeni Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit led to the recovery of the machines in February, though the suspect initially evaded capture.
The case escalated when new charges were opened, including extortion and vehicle theft, after a truck was allegedly stolen and the complainant threatened for money.
A breakthrough came on Saturday when officers tracked the suspect to Ekombe, where he was arrested and the stolen truck recovered.
He now faces multiple charges, including theft, extortion, and possession of suspected stolen property, and is due in court on Tuesday.
Email: motshwari@onenews.co.za
