A multi-disciplinary crime-fighting operation has led to the arrest of a 38-year-old man, Simphiwe Mhlongo, who now faces a litany of serious charges including possession of a stolen vehicle, unlicensed firearms, and murder.
The arrest was initiated on the afternoon of Wednesday, 16 September 2025, when an off-duty police officer spotted a vehicle travelling along the N11 road in the Amajuba District. The officer identified the car as one suspected of being involved in livestock theft in Mpumalanga province.
A team comprising Amajuba District police, Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) officers, and private security personnel was quickly mobilised. They successfully stopped the vehicle, which was being driven by Mhlongo. Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, back in 2023.
A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded an empty rifle bag. This discovery prompted the team to proceed to the suspect’s residence. There, investigators uncovered a cache of illicit items, including a rifle, a pistol, several pieces of police uniform, a police certifying stamp, various car keys, and a vehicle logbook. Initial investigations confirmed that the recovered rifle had been reported stolen in Osizweni.
Mhlongo made his first court appearance the following day, Thursday, 17 September 2025, at the Utrecht Magistrate’s Court. He was remanded in custody to allow for further investigations and a formal bail application.
However, his bid for freedom was decisively rejected on Monday, 22 September 2025. The bail application was opposed after police presented evidence linking Mhlongo to the murder of a taxi owner in Osizweni, as well as a business robbery that occurred in Utrecht in May 2025.
With investigations still ongoing, authorities anticipate that Simphiwe Mhlongo will face additional criminal charges. He remains in custody.
