Hijacked Car, Explosives: Three Mozambican Nationals Arrested in Rustenburg Raid

A targeted police operation in Rustenburg has netted three Mozambican nationals found in possession of a hijacked vehicle and explosives, underscoring the cross-border nature of serious crime in the mining belt.

The intelligence-driven bust occurred on Monday in the Snake Park informal settlement near Rustenburg. According to North West police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh, members of the SAPS crime combating unit acted on information about a hijacked vehicle linked to local criminal activity.

A Two-Part Arrest

The operation unfolded in two stages. Police first apprehended two suspects, aged 19 and 30, who were found with a motor vehicle hijacked in the Bokamoso informal settlement in December 2025.

Following leads, officers then proceeded to another address in the same area, where they arrested a third suspect, 36. A search of this suspect revealed the more alarming find: explosives in his possession.

Court Appearance and Ongoing Probe

The three men are scheduled to appear before the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 7 January 2026. They face charges of possession of a hijacked motor vehicle and possession of explosives. Police indicated the investigation is ongoing and further charges may be added.

Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Ryno Naidoo, welcomed the arrests, highlighting the success of intelligence-led policing in disrupting serious and violent crime. He reiterated the police’s commitment to community safety across the province.

The arrests point to the sophisticated and dangerous operations sometimes run by cross-border criminal networks, often using remote informal settlements as bases. The discovery of explosives alongside a hijacked vehicle suggests potential links to more severe planned crimes, such as cash-in-transit heists or ATM bombings, common threats in the economically vital North West region.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com