Police in Musina have arrested an unregistered 33-year-old Zimbabwean cross-border transport operator for allegedly attempting to bribe a member of the SAPS provincial crime combating unit with R600, following the interception his vehicle, a white bakkie, which was carrying a group of more than 10 illegal immigrants along the N1 Highway in Musina.

The SAPS spokeswoman for Musina Station, Constable Deborah Bob, told Mirror that the suspect was in the company of a colleague, who is now on the run, adding that the police have since launched a manhunt for the accomplice.

"The suspect was intercepted by our SAPS provincial crime combating unit, which was patrolling along the N1 Road at around 21:00 last week on Tuesday, 30 October. On stopping the car, Insp Madiba then opened the canopy of the bakkie and he found a group of more than 10 Zimbabwean illegal immigrants who were being ferried to Gauteng and none of them had a passport," she said.

The suspect then tried to bribe Insp. Madiba with R600 so that he could release the car, but he refused to accept the offer and subsequently arrested the suspect. The suspect’s friend, who was traveling with him, then opened the door of the vehicle and took to his heels.

The illegal immigrants were arrested and subsequently deported back to Zimbabwe. Const Bob said the suspect would appear in court soon on bribery charges.

"As SAPS, we would like to commend cops such as Insp Madiba who are committed to executing their duties diligently, and what he did by refusing to be bribed is certainly worth emulating," Bob said.

Of late, there has been an increase in the number of unregistered Zimbabwean cross-border transport operators, commonly known as omalayitsha, who are involved in smuggling Zimbabwean illegal immigrants into South Africa through the Beitbridge border post, using Gauteng-registered vehicles.

They reportedly bribe both Zimbabwean and South African police and immigration officers manning the border post to gain entrance into the country.

Most of the illegal immigrants are transported to Gauteng for fees ranging between R1500 and R2000 for a single trip. Lately, there has been an increase in the demand for omalayitshas’ services as scores of Zimbabweans continue to flee their country in search of greener pastures in South Africa, as the economic situation in that country keeps worsening with no possible end in sight to the economic woes bedeviling the neighboring country.