NELSPRUIT – A 34-year-old man, who is a motor mechanic, has been arrested after driving his client’s vehicle without consent thus refusing to give it back to the owner when he finished fixing it.

According to the information, on Sunday, 13 February 2022 police received a complaint at Kwamhlanga that a certain motor mechanic refused to hand over the victim’s car.

Reports further stated that the victim’s car had an engine fault and she then took her Chevrolet Aveo to the mechanic to be fixed where she paid an amount of R800. When the victim wanted her car back the man refused to give it back, citing that he was not yet done but then demanded an amount of R6000-00.

Despite the victim insisting that the mechanic brings back her car, the man kept on refusing. He was later seen by others gallivanting around Moloto with the victim’s car without her consent. She then reported the matter to the police at Kwamhlanga. A case of driving a motor vehicle without owner’s consent was opened and the man was arrested.

The suspect it due to appear before Kwamhlanga Magistrate’s Court today 15 February 2022.

The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has warned that business owners should avoid exploiting our communities especially women and the vulnerable groups. “It is possible that the mechanic might have taken an advantage that the complainant is a woman and has little knowledge about vehicles. This tendency must stop now. I further request others to report incidents of this nature and not to allow anyone to abuse them directly or indirectly,” said the Provincial Commissioner.

Source: South African Police Service