Durban - A Pietermaritzburg policeman, accused of being part of an 11-member gang that plagued parts of KwaZulu-Natal by stealing cars, had his personal vehicle confiscated by the Asset Forfeiture Unit on Thursday.
Members of the Hawks Unit swooped on the home of Mduduzi Zondi and his wife, Nokulunga, where they seized a Nissan Navara valued at R48 400.
The order to seize Zondi’s vehicle was granted by the Pietermaritzburg High Court in relation to charges unrelated to the car theft syndicate.
Zondi is charged with fraud and defeating the ends of justice after allegedly making a false hijacking report and then defrauding an insurance firm.
On March 4, 2013, Zondi sold a BMW 323i for R20 000 to an undercover agent. At the time of the transaction, Zondi was unaware that the buyer was an undercover agent.
Two days later, Zondi allegedly made a false report to the SAPS that the BMW had been hijacked.
In his statement to the police, Zondi said he was travelling on Slangspruit Road when a white VW Polo hit the back of the BMW. Zondi said he stopped the BMW to inspect the damage.
Zondi claimed while he was inspecting the damages to the BMW, a man pointed a firearm at him and demanded the keys to the BMW.
Zondi said he dropped the BMW keys on the floor and the assailant drove away in his car.
On March 7, 2013, Zondi reported the hijacking to Hollard Insurance.
He then allegedly fraudulently completed and signed an agreement of loss, after which Hollard paid out an amount of R126 900 to Zondi.
He was arrested on February 2 last year.
Zondi is also alleged to be part of a car theft syndicate, along with co-accused: Ian Williams, Siyanda Tsotsane, Ndumiso Ntshangase, Siyanda Mkhize, Nathi Hlela, Siyabonga Thobaleni Dlamini, Sibongiseni Marken, Lwazi Xulu, Sandile Shezi and Derrick Williams. They are charged with cases of vehicle theft in Pietermaritzburg, Durban and Estcourt in recent years.
Warrant Officer Andrew Brown, of the Directorate for Priority Crimes, said in an affidavit that the theft of motor vehicles in Pietermaritzburg had dropped dramatically after they arrested the group in February last year.
In February 2012, 61 vehicles were stolen, but the number fell to 26 in February 2014.
Zondi and his co-accused will be tried in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court in May.
Daily News