Polokwane Regional Court has spoken — and it wasn’t gentle. Simon Andile Nyathi, a 40-year-old Zimbabwean man living in South Africa without the proper papers, has been slapped with a hefty 15-year prison sentence for stealing a police vehicle and breaking the country’s Immigration Act. Seems like borrowing a car without permission is never a good idea — especially when it belongs to the law itself.

The saga began back in May 2024 when Limpopo’s Provincial Tracking Team, teaming up with private security firms Mighty Security and Tshimollo Security and Investigation, got a tip-off about a silver Isuzu double cab bakkie cruising near a fuel station along the busy N1 freeway. That bakkie wasn’t just any vehicle — it belonged to the SAPS Crime Intelligence Unit and had gone missing in Soshanguve, Gauteng.

Enter Nyathi, who was found in possession of the stolen ride. Turns out, not only was he joyriding in a police vehicle, but he was also in the country illegally — a double whammy that landed him extra charges under the 2002 Immigration Act.

Despite his claim that he “borrowed” the vehicle unknowingly, the evidence was crystal clear: tracking data, eyewitness accounts, and official records all pointed to his guilt. The judge wasn’t buying his story either, handing down a combined sentence of 15 years behind bars.

The magistrate didn’t mince words, highlighting how stealing from the police isn’t just petty crime — it’s a direct assault on public safety and law enforcement’s ability to keep order. The court also sent a strong message about illegal immigration, especially when it’s linked to serious crimes like vehicle theft.

Limpopo’s Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the arresting officers and the private security teams for their relentless work in nabbing Nyathi. She stressed how crucial the partnership between law enforcement and private security is, especially in crime-prone hotspots along the N1.

With over 50,000 vehicles stolen annually in South Africa — many destined for neighboring countries like Zimbabwe and Mozambique — Limpopo remains a hotbed for cross-border crime. Last year alone, police recovered more than 200 stolen vehicles in the province, many intercepted before they could be smuggled out.

This isn’t the first time the courts have dealt with such cases. Just a couple of months ago, another Zimbabwean man was sentenced for similar crimes involving a stolen Toyota Corolla Cross.

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