Thirty-one foreign nationals were remanded by the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Monday after appearing for allegedly contravening the Immigration Act.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Capt. Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi reported the arrests took place on Friday around 8 PM near Kaapmuiden in Mpumalanga, following information received from crime intelligence.
Two taxi drivers, a bakkie driver, and 38 undocumented Mozambican passengers, aged between 17 and 40, were arrested.
The passengers included 16 women travelling with 10 toddlers, four teenage girls, and 15 men. The arrest followed a tip-off regarding two taxis transporting the undocumented individuals from Mozambique to Johannesburg.
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Capt. Sekgotodi stated that the individuals were arrested on allegations of kidnapping, aiding and abetting, and contravention of the Immigration Act. Kaapmuiden SAPS, the local Criminal Record Centre, and Border Police collaborated in stopping and searching the taxis along the N4 near Kaapmuiden.
As a result, the 15 men appeared in court on Monday and were remanded until August 20 for legal aid representation.
The 10 women arrested were remanded and their case postponed to ascertain their age and legal aid requirements. Sekgotodi mentioned that cases involving the minor children are pending until the availability of a probation officer and a social worker.
