08/10/2026
Transformer Thief Caught After Dramatic Farm Chase
In the early hours of 8 October 2026, at 04:58, Mapogo's control room received a call from Mr Meyer of Rapid Trade on the farm Vogelstruisfontein, Ventersdorp Road, Randfontein.
Reaction officers Dirk Boshoff and Lennard Fortune were dispatched immediately, arriving on the scene at 05:12. Mr Meyer informed the officers that his power had gone off, and when he went to investigate, he saw a Nissan bakkie speeding away from the scene.
Mr Meyer gave chase in his vehicle, and the driver of the Nissan eventually lost control, crashing into a nearby mielie field. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into the field.
The reaction officers and Mr Meyer approached the abandoned bakkie, where they found the stolen transformer loaded on the back. Officer Lennard Fortune stood guard over the vehicle and the transformer, while Officer Dirk Boshoff and Mr Meyer continued searching for the suspects.
Officer Boshoff successfully apprehended one suspect hiding in the mielie field. The team requested support from Mapogo's drone unit to assist in locating the second suspect, but the search was unfortunately unsuccessful.
Tracker arrived on scene and confirmed that the Nissan bakkie had been reported stolen, with the signal tracked to this very location.
When SAPS arrived, the suspect, the vehicle, and the transformer were handed over to Sergeant Ratsetsoko of Randfontein SAPS for further investigation.
Thanks to the swift response of our reaction officers and the bravery of Mr Meyer, stolen infrastructure was recovered, and a suspect was brought to justice.
Well done to Dirk Boshoff and Lennard Fortune for their quick thinking and teamwork.
Mapogo Moves With Intention.