- The 19th person accused of being part of a VW Polo theft syndicate appeared in court on Wednesday.
- He was apprehended in Gauteng on Tuesday.
- The syndicate has allegedly been operating between Gauteng and the Western Cape.
A 31-year-old man alleged to be part of a syndicate stealing VW Polos was released on bail in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said Lesego Motsatsi was the 19th accused in the case, which included officials working in the licensing department who allegedly helped re-register the stolen cars.
The latest arrest was made on the strength of a warrant in Gauteng on Tuesday.
Motsatsi appeared in court on Wednesday and was released on bail with strict conditions that include not interfering with state witnesses.
The case was remanded to July for a joinder and for legal representation.
The matter emerges from an in-depth investigation into stolen VW Polos shifted by a syndicate working between Gauteng and the Western Cape.
"During the first leg of the investigation eight syndicate members, including their ring leaders, were dealt a major blow when they were arrested from February this year consecutively between Cape Town and Johannesburg. Subsequently nine suspects were nabbed during the second leg of investigation from three different vehicle licensing departments."
Further investigation revealed these employees from the transport department allegedly aided the syndicate in ensuring that the stolen vehicles were reregistered.
"The eighteenth suspect, a girlfriend to the Gauteng based ring leader, was arrested on Wednesday, 16 June 2021, for her alleged involvement in the syndicate," Hani added.
Police believe they may have apprehended the top tier of the syndicate.
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