Zim transporter arrested for smuggling children into SA

A 32-year-old, unregistered Zimbabwean cross-border transport operator was fined US$600 or five months in jail, for smuggling a group of border jumpers into South Africa.

Kenias Mhlanga of Bulawayo was convicted of assisting border jumpers by a local magistrate, Mr Carrington Karidzagundi. In addition to the fine, Mhlanga was further sentenced to five months´ imprisonment, which was conditionally suspended for five years.

The prosecutor, Mr Reason Mutimba, said on August 9, shortly before midnight, Mhlanga drove his Gauteng-registered Toyota Quantum minibus from Bulawayo to Beit Bridge. The vehicle was carrying a group of border jumpers, among them 21 undocumented children.

On arrival at Beit Bridge, he then helped the border jumpers to cross the border into South Africa through an undesignated entry point along the Limpopo River. The court heard that Mhlanga later drove to the South African side, where he picked them up.

He was, however, spotted by SAPS members while loading the border jumpers into his vehicle. He was promptly arrested. The illegal immigrants were taken to the South African home affairs department and later handed over to the Zimbabwean authorities.

Among the border jumpers were seven adults and they were taken to the Beit Bridge Police Station, while the minors were ferried to the Save the Children (UK) centre in the border town, where they were offered temporary shelter.

News - Date: 19 August 2011

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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