By OBAKENG MAJE

Malawian man has been fined R18 000 by the Mmabatho Regional Court after he was found guilty of contravening Section 49 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. In October 2022, the members of the Mahikeng based Serious Organised Crime Investigation, received information about a suspicious truck spotted at Kopfontein Port of Entry.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Col Tinyiko Mathebula said, the police proceeded to the scene, where a search was conducted.

“During the search, eighteen (18) undocumented Ethiopian men aged between 18 and 20 years were allegedly found hidden in a false compartment under the trailer of the truck.

“The preliminary investigation revealed that, the truck driver, Benedicto Makawa (39) was hired to transport the young men from Lusaka in Zambia to Johannesburg. Investigation further revealed that, the Ethiopian nationals were going to meet their relatives who had promised them work in Johannesburg,” he said.

He further said Makawa was subsequently arrested and charged with contravention of Immigration Act. Mathebula added that, he made a series of court appearances until he entered into a plea agreement with the state.

“He found guilty on eighteen counts of contravening Section 49 (2) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. The accused was sentenced to a fine of R1000 for each count,” he said.

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