Six white Jetour T2 hybrids were stopped near Colesberg on Friday afternoon. By then, police had already impounded six more vehicles of the same model in Beaufort West.

By SA Business Lens | 18 October 2026

Twelve hybrid vehicles have been linked to a police investigation into suspected fraudulent purchases spanning the Northern and Western Cape.

The case came to light when Western Cape Crime Intelligence alerted officers in Colesberg to six vehicles travelling from Beaufort West towards the town.

Vehicles intercepted outside Colesberg

Highway Patrol officers, Colesberg Visible Policing and members from Hanover positioned themselves along the route. They stopped the vehicles about 35 kilometres outside Colesberg, according to an official SAPS statement.

There was one male driver in each vehicle. Police said the men claimed they were taking the vehicles to an undisclosed destination in Pretoria.

Documents suspected to be fraudulent were allegedly found inside the vehicles. Further checks led police to believe that the vehicles may have been bought fraudulently.

SAPS valued the six vehicles intercepted near Colesberg at a combined R4.752 million. Officers also seized ten mobile phones and the documents found during the operation.

Six more vehicles already impounded

The police statement revealed that Western Cape Crime Intelligence had already impounded another six vehicles of the same make in Beaufort West. That brought the total linked to the investigation to twelve.

The six men stopped near Colesberg are South African citizens aged between 28 and 62. Police registered six case dockets for possession of suspected stolen vehicles.

The men remained in custody when SAPS issued its statement and were expected to appear in the Colesberg Magistrate’s Court. The allegations have not been tested in court, and an arrest does not establish guilt.

Police have not explained how the vehicles were allegedly bought. They have also not identified the dealerships or other businesses involved.

A warning for high-value sellers

The case illustrates how quickly a questionable transaction can cross company and provincial boundaries. It also underlines the importance of checking identities, cleared payments and collection authority before releasing expensive goods.

Bulk purchases, unusual delivery instructions or a last-minute change of destination may warrant an additional check. Those precautions apply well beyond motor dealerships to any business selling movable, high-value assets.

SAPS said the investigation was continuing.

The arrest, vehicle-count and valuation details were independently reported by Maroela Media on 17 October. Primary source: South African Police Service, 16 October 2026.

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