Nelspruit: The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has commended both members of the public and police at Lothair for acting swiftly, thereby uncovering three mini busses with 42 suspected illegal immigrants from Mozambique. The kombis, which were en route to Durban, were intercepted at R33 Road (Carolina-Amsterdam road) near Lothair on Wednesday morning, 16 March 22. On the same day, a 39-year-old man, believed to be the kingpin into the underworld of human trafficking has since been arrested and charged by the police at Lothair (in Gert Sibande District).
According to the report, police at Lothair received information through intelligence structure of the police in the province about three mini busses which were trafficking illegal immigrants from the country of Mozambique and were heading to Durban (KZN Province). The information further outlined that they were going to pass through R33 near Lothair. The details were then followed up whereby an operation was conducted accordingly. Around 08:30 police conducted stop-and-searches at Carolina-Amsterdam road (R33) and by 09:30, three mini busses with passengers emerged, fitting the description as per information provided.
The drivers of the three mini busses were halted and police conducted a search whereby it was discovered that the 42 occupants had no form of legal documentation to be in South Africa. The members also established that amongst the 33 males and 10 females, none of them had paid for their trip. It was later discovered through further probe that someone funded this mission of ferrying the said people possibly to work as labourers in Durban.
The investigation also led members to arrest a man who is suspected to be behind this whole saga. Police are working in partnership with their counterparts from the Department of Home Affairs in this case and the investigation will also look into how the 42 entered the country as well as possibilities of others immigrated into the country illegally so.
The alleged kingpin is expected to appear, alongside the 42 suspected illegal immigrants before the Ermelo Magistrates’ Court today, Thursday 17 March 2022 facing the charges of Human Trafficking and other charges in relation to contravention of the Immigration Act.
Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela further reiterated the commitment by the SAPS to deal with crime decisively through vigilance by the team of committed members in the province. “When it comes to tackling crime, we will not back down or tolerate lawlessness no matter what. We really appreciate the unwavering support that we get from our communities. Criminals must just watch the space” said the General.
Source: South African Police Service