Twenty-five undocumented foreign nationals arrested for contravention of immigration act

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Twenty-five undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested by police at Sebayeng for contravention of immigration act at Solomondale near Polokwane on Saturday.

 

This comes after a tip-off was received about a white Toyota Quantum that was found driving through Munik road from BeitBridge port of entry in Musina from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the operational team successfully spotted the said vehicle at the filling station along the R81 road.

“Upon checking they discovered that twenty-three Ethiopian male nationals aged between 20 and 38 years were ferried in a fifteen seater passenger mini bus by the 44-year-old male driver who was confirmed to be a South African citizen.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that all the passengers in the said Quantum were illegally smuggled into South Africa from Ethiopia through Zimbabwe.

“While in the process of searching in the Quantum and the passengers, they suddenly saw a white motor vehicle Toyota Fortuner which stopped at the scene being driven by a male foreign national,” he said.

Col. Malesela stated that the driver of the Quantum was found in possession of a licensed firearm, and it was confiscated for investigation purposes.

Meanwhile, the driver of the Fortuner reportedly tried to bribe the police with R5000 to let the Quantum with the passengers go free from the arrest, and subsequently, he was charged for bribery.

He added; “The two drivers were also arrested and are facing charges of human trafficking, bribery, and contravention of immigration act.”

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The acting provincial commissioner, Major General Jan Scheepers has hailed the involved teams for their commitment and alertness in ridding the province of criminality.

The suspects are expected to appear before Mankweng magistrate’s court on Monday.