In an unexpected turn of events, two men who initially posed as victims in separate hijacking cases have been arrested for allegedly faking the crimes and colluding to strip and sell their own vehicles. This development follows the discovery of a dismantled luxury vehicle during a recent police operation in Nirvana, Polokwane.
On Wednesday, 09 July 2025, an intelligence-driven operation led by the Limpopo Tracking Team, in partnership with private sector, uncovered a black Porsche Cayenne that had been reported stolen in May 2025 under the Zebediela policing area. The high-end vehicle was already stripped for parts at a workshop located along Nelson Mandela Drive in Nirvana.
Further search of the premises led to the recovery of a second vehicle, a Toyota Tazz, reported stolen in October 2024 in the Seshego policing area. This raised suspicions and triggered a deeper investigation into the origins of the vehicles and the legitimacy of the reported cases.
Two suspects, Paballo Masokameng (37), the alleged mastermind behind the Porsche case, and Emmanuel Boshomane (37), owner of the Toyota Tazz, were subsequently arrested. Both initially reported their vehicles stolen under false pretences.
Masokameng claimed he had been hijacked by three unknown men after offering them a lift. However, investigations revealed that he had staged the hijacking, removed and sold parts of the Porsche, and transported the stripped vehicle to the workshop to be fully dismantled. He was arrested and charged with fraud, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice. He appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, and is expected to appear again on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, for a formal bail application.
In the second incident, Boshomane, a TVET College lecturer, was allegedly approached by Masokameng and persuaded to fake a hijacking involving his Toyota Tazz. The vehicle was reported stolen from Boshomane’s home in Moletjie (Seshego policing area) and then taken to the same workshop. The workshop owner allegedly decided to buy the car instead, changed its colour, and altered its registration number plates.
Boshomane was arrested and also charged with fraud, perjury, and defeating the ends of justice. He appeared in court on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, was granted R500 bail, and is expected back in court on 27 August 2025.
The workshop owner, Mustafar Hussain (49), a Tanzanian national, was arrested during the operation. He has been charged with possession of stolen motor vehicles and appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 11 July 2025. He remains in custody and is scheduled to apply for bail on Wednesday, 16 July 2025.
The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has issued a stern warning to individuals who deliberately mislead police and abuse legal processes:
“We will uncover the truth, no matter how elaborate the scheme. Those involved in deceiving the police and attempting to benefit from insurance fraud will be arrested and prosecuted.” Concluded the Provincial Commissioner.