South Africa hands back stolen Botswana machinery worth R9.6 million

Botswana has recovered heavy-duty machinery worth millions of rands from neighbouring South Africa following a cross-border operation involving police from the two countries and INTERPOL.

The Botswana Police Service (BPS) and INTERPOL Gaborone recovered equipment valued at more than P8 million (approximately R9.6 million) after it was stolen from Gaborone in May 2024.

The machinery was handed back to Botswana authorities at the Tlokweng Border Gate on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.

According to a statement by the Botswana Police Service, the recovered equipment consists of two heavy-duty engines that were traced and recovered in South Africa in early 2025.

The handover marks the conclusion of a recovery process that began after the machinery was reported stolen more than two years ago.

Botswana returns stolen firearms to South Africa

During the same handover exercise, Botswana police returned three stolen firearms to South African authorities.

The weapons comprised one revolver and two rifles.

The exchange highlighted the cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the neighbouring countries in investigating cross-border criminal activities and recovering stolen property.

The Botswana Police Service said the joint operation demonstrated the importance of collaboration in tackling crimes that extend beyond national borders.

The suspects linked to the machinery theft are yet to appear before court, while police have not publicly identified the individuals involved.

Botswana and South Africa strengthen cross-border crime cooperation

The machinery recovery comes amid continued efforts by Botswana and South Africa to strengthen cooperation against organised crime.

In September 2026, the Botswana Police Service said Commissioner Dinah Marathe had met South African Police Service (SAPS) Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane in Pretoria.

The meeting focused on intelligence sharing, joint investigations and coordinated operations to tackle transnational organised crime.

According to the Botswana Police Service, the two countries face several shared challenges, including stock theft, motor vehicle theft, human trafficking, drug trafficking and the movement of illicit firearms.

The Botswana police commissioner also revealed that 3,441 livestock, predominantly small stock, had been reported stolen in Botswana and taken across the border into South Africa between 2023 and 2026. Only 480 had been recovered.

The latest machinery handover provides another example of how cooperation between the two countries can help recover stolen property and address criminal activities involving both jurisdictions.