‘Bus intercepted on N1 was processed through Beitbridge’

The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Michael Masiapato has confirmed that the bus that was recently intercepted on the N1 near Bloemfontein in the Free State with undocumented foreign nationals was processed through the Beitbridge Port of Entry in accordance with all prescribed procedures.

Masiapato says on arrival at the port, the bus entered through the North Gate where standard port operations were executed. The BMA says all 43 passengers were required to alight with their luggage to undergo mandatory screening processes. This comes after 12 children were separated from their guardians when the bus carrying 32 undocumented Zimbabwean nationals was stopped at a road block on the N1 near Bloemfontein on Thursday night.

Twenty adults were detained and the children were taken to a place of safety.

The bus was en-route to Cape Town.

“Concurrently, the bus itself was searched to detect any undocumented individuals. the driver presented a passenger manifest, which included the names and passport numbers of all individuals on board. each passenger proceeded to immigration counters where they presented their passports to bma immigration officials. all documents were verified and found to be legitimate, and the passengers were duly processed and granted entry into south africa in line with applicable immigration prescripts,” explains BMA spokesperson, Mmemme Mogotsi.

Reporting by Abigail Visagie