Dozens of undocumented passengers were allegedly discovered on a bus in the Free State.
The bus driver is under investigation because, according to the authorities, the bus was cleared before leaving Beitbridge.
Border Management Authority (BMA) officials insist the vehicle cleared immigration and weighbridge checks with all required documentation before leaving the port of entry.However, when the bus was later intercepted near Bloemfontein, 32 additional undocumented passengers were found, raising questions about where they came from.
BMA Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, said when checked, all the passengers had all the documentation in terms of the cross-border permit.
“They had all the documentation in terms of the cross-border permit, and of course, all the passengers had documentation as required, and they were processed in the country. All buses, as you know, when they leave the port, they go into a weigh bridge where all the buses are going to weigh, to check if they’re overweight or they’re overloaded or anything.
“That bus went into the weigh bridge; we do have record of that particular process, including the footage, even when it was actually weighed, and that bus complied.”
Masiapato said there were no additional people when the bus was allowed into South Africa. “From where we are sitting, we are saying that particular issue is under full investigation. Number one, the driver will have to indicate where did he pick up those people, and the driver, by the way, has to be charged for aiding and abetting according to section 59 of the Immigration Act.”
There could also be additional charges.