Two undocumented taxi drivers an a bakkie driver, and 38 undocumented Mozambican passengers appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court today, August 12, after they had been arrested in Kaapmuiden at about 20:00 on Friday, August 9, following Crime Intelligence receiving information regarding two taxis allegedly transporting undocumented people from Mozambique to Johannesburg.
The Kaapmuiden SAPS, the Local Criminal Record Centre and the Border Police spotted the taxis on the N4 at Kaapmuiden, and stopped and searched them. Sixteen women travelling with 10 toddlers and 14 men were found without proper documentation. The bakkie driver, who was part of the group, was arrested later that same night at a different location in the area.
The suspects were charged and detained on allegations of kidnapping, aiding, abetting and contravention of the Immigration Act.
All the suspects were remanded in custody. The men’s case was remanded to August 20 for Legal Aid representatives, while the women and the toddlers’ case was postponed to Tuesday, August 13, for age determination and Legal Aid. Although all 16 women claim to be adults, six of them appeared to be younger, so they were not dealt with today, pending the availability of a probation officer and social worker.
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The Nelspruit Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit was informed and invited to the crime scene, and the case docket was handed over to them for further probing.
