Sixteen Mozambican women arrested for being in South Africa illegally have been found guilty and sentenced for contravention of the Immigration Act by the Barberton Magistrate’s Court.
The sentencing on Tuesday comes after the accused were arrested last Friday along the N4, next to Kaapmuiden, travelling in two taxis from Mozambique to Johannesburg without permits or passports.
A total of 41 suspects, two taxi drivers, a bakkie driver plus 38 undocumented Mozambican passengers, aged between 17 and 40, were arrested at Kaapmuiden on August 8 at about 8pm.
Their arrest follows information received from crime intelligence regarding two taxis that were transporting undocumented people from Mozambique to Johannesburg.
The Kaapmuiden SAPS, Local Criminal Record Centre and border police followed up on the information.
The taxis were stopped, and during the search, a total of 16 women travelling with 10 toddlers, four teenage girls and 15 men were found without proper documentation.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said the suspects were charged and detained on allegations of kidnapping, aiding, abetting and contravention of the Immigration Act.
Sekgotodi said the case docket was handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Mbombela for further investigation.
“With the assistance of Legal Aid, the accused were sentenced to R2 000 or six months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that the accused are not convicted for similar offence during the period of suspension.
“The court further ordered that the accused be deported back to their country,” said Sekgotodi.
She confirmed that the case of the 15 Mozambican men had been postponed to August 20 for Legal Aid representatives.
“The accused remain in custody. The investigation continues,” she said.
Recently, police across the country have arrested a number of undocumented foreign nationals during “Operation Shanela”.
Organisations such as Operation Dudula have been calling on the authorities to deport illegal immigrants and secure the country’s borders.