Members of the Middelburg Flying Squad and Farm Patrol Securities acted swiftly on information received regarding a group allegedly involved in theft from local farms and nearby mines.
On 12 February 2026 at approximately 06:00, members operationalised the information and spotted a white Kia pickup with a canopy travelling along the N11 towards Hendrina. The vehicle, bearing North West registration number plates, was stopped using sirens and blue lights.
Upon searching the vehicle, members discovered eight male occupants seated on top of 12 HDPE pipes inside the canopy. Preliminary investigations revealed that the pipes had been stolen from Optimum Coal Mine. The mine manager was contacted and positively identified the recovered pipes as property belonging to the mine.
The following nine suspects, aged between 17 and 38, were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property:
• Jabu Mokgopo (38)
• Enock Masina (34)
• Enock Khoza (23)
• Bongani Tlou (34)
• Xolani Mnisi (18)
• Vista Moyo (35)
• Simphiwe Siyabonga Masuku (17)
• Siyabonga Ngwenya (25)
• Themba Sithole (17)
The suspects appeared at the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court on 13 February 2026, where they were granted bail of R500 each. The matter was postponed to 13 March 2026 for further investigation.
