The Barberton magistrate’s court has ordered the immediate deportation of 16 women who were found guilty of violating the Immigration Act. The women, along with undocumented passengers, were arrested while traveling from Mozambique to Johannesburg without permits or passports.
The suspects, including two taxi drivers and a bakkie driver, were charged with aiding, abetting, and contravening the Immigration Act. The women were found with children and teenagers without proper documentation.
After being sentenced to either a fine of R2,000 or six months imprisonment, suspended for five years, the women were ordered to be deported back to their country. The men involved in the case were remanded in custody, with their case postponed to a later date for Legal Aid representatives.
This decision was made after information from crime intelligence led to the arrest of the suspects. The court emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the importance of upholding immigration laws.
TimesLIVE