Two taxi drivers, a bakkie driver, and 38 undocumented Mozambican passengers, aged 17 to 40, are expected to appear in Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 12 August 2024.

They were arrested on Friday, 08 August 2024, at around 20:00 in Kaapmuiden. The arrest followed a tip-off from Crime Intelligence about two taxis transporting undocumented individuals from Mozambique to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Kaapmuiden SAPS, the Local Criminal Record Centre, and Border Police acted on the information. The taxis were spotted, stopped, and searched on the N4 near Kaapmuiden, Mpumalanga. During the search, 16 women, 10 toddlers, 4 teenage girls, and 15 men were found without proper documentation.

The suspects face charges of kidnapping, aiding, abetting, and contravening the Immigration Act.

The Nelspruit Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit was informed and took over the case for further investigation.