Transporters jailed for attempting to smuggle Zim kids into SA

Three unregistered Zimbabwean cross-border transport operators were sentenced to an effective four months in jail on Thursday last week, for attempting to smuggle three undocumented children into South Africa through the Beit Bridge Border Post.

Rangarirai Dhliwayo (29), Wellington Dube (24) and Mcasiseli Moyo (27), all from Bulawayo, were convicted on their own pleas of guilty of assisting border jumpers by a local magistrate, Ms Sheila Nazombe.

They were sentenced to six months' imprisonment, of which two months were conditionally suspended for five years.

The prosecutor, Mr Marvelous Chikomo, said that on 1 April, the three men connived to smuggle three children into South Africa.  They then proceeded to Beit Bridge Border Post in their Gauteng-registered Toyota Quantum minibus, ferrying the three minors, whose ages range between one and two. On arrival at the border post, they were intercepted at the exit gate by an alert police detective. On searching the vehicle, the police officer discovered that the vehicle was carrying three undocumented children, leading to the trio’s arrest.

News - Date: 13 April 2012

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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