Jailed for attempting to smuggle illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe to SA

A 20-year-old Zimbabwean was sentenced to two years in jail, following his interception by the police at the Beit Bridge border, while attempting to smuggle 11 illegal immigrants into South Africa.

Prince Ndlovu was intercepted at the border post while driving a Gauteng-registered Toyota Quantum, which was transporting four adults and seven children. He appeared in court last Friday before Magistrate Gloria Takundwa and he was convicted on his own plea of guilty to contravening a section of the Immigration Act (assisting border jumpers).

Ndlovu will serve an effective 18 months in jail, after the magistrate conditionally suspended six months of the sentence for five years.

It was testified that on 21 January, at around 19:00, Ndlovu went to the Beit Bridge border. The court heard that while there, Ndlovu went through all the immigration and customs procedures, after which he proceeded to the exit gate en route to South Africa. He was intercepted by detectives from the local police border control unit, who then requested to see the passengers and their travel documents.

It was established that Ndlovu had collected a total of R5 700 from the border jumpers as payment for facilitating their illegal migration to South Africa. He was arrested and the money was also recovered from him.

The illegal immigrants were also each fined US$20 for exit by evasion.

News - Date: 01 February 2013

Mashudu Netsianda

Mashudu Netsianda is our correspondent in Beit Bridge, Zimbabwe. He joined us in 2006, writing both local and international stories. He had worked for several Zimbabwean publications, as well as the Times of Swaziland. Mashudu received his training at the School of Mass Communication in Harare.

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