The
vehicle,
en
route
from
Zimbabwe
to
Cape
Town,
was
stopped
in
Bloemfontein
on
Friday,
3
April
2026,
during
an
operation
by
the
Free
State
Department
of
Community
Safety,
Roads
and
Transport.
Authorities
discovered
that,
in
addition
to
43
passengers
who
had
been
properly
processed
at
Beitbridge,
the
bus
was
carrying
32
foreign
nationals
without
valid
documentation.
It
is
alleged
that
the
undocumented
immigrants
boarded
the
bus
after
it
had
already
entered
South
Africa,
with
pickups
reportedly
taking
place
in
Makhado
and
Johannesburg.
Parliament
has
since
called
for
Rimbi
Travel
and
Tours,
a
licensed
cross-border
transport
company
linked
to
the
bus,
be
suspended
while
a
full
investigation
is
conducted.
BMA
processing
at
Beitbridge
border
post
According
to
the
BMA,
the
bus
arrived
at
the
north
gate
carrying
43
passengers
in
the
early
hours
of
2
April,
where
all
occupants
disembarked
with
their
luggage
for
standard
checks.
Passengers
underwent
health
screening
and
baggage
inspections
for
prohibited
items,
while
the
bus
was
searched
for
any
undocumented
individuals.
A
passenger
list
with
names
and
passport
details
was
provided
by
the
driver.
All
travellers
presented
valid
documents,
were
cleared
by
immigration
officials,
and
granted
entry
into
South
Africa.
The
driver’s
passport
and
cross-border
permit
were
also
verified,
while
the
vehicle
was
processed
in
line
with
regulations.
No
illegal
immigrants
onboard
–
Masiapato
Speaking
to
reporters
on
Monday,
6
April,
Masiapato
emphasised
that
engagements
with
cross-border
operators
over
the
past
year
had
largely
prevented
such
occurrences.
“We
had
conversations
with
all
the
cross-border
operators,
buses
in
particular.
“We
engaged
with
the
CEOs,
we
engaged
with
the
owners,
and
we
basically
said
to
them,
‘no
one
must
ferry
people
without
documentation.”
“I
think
you
will
be
aware
that
we
have
done
that
work
very
extensively
during
the
past
year
until
this
point
and
since
we
had
those
conversations,
we
never
necessarily
had
any
of
this
incident,
which
just
happened,”
he
said.
Masiapato
also
stressed
that
the
bus
left
the
border
fully
compliant,
with
no
indication
of
additional
passengers
at
the
time.
He
explained
that
all
buses
are
required
to
pass
through
a
weighing
station
after
departing
the
port
of
entry,
where
officials
assess
whether
it
overweight
or
is
carrying
more
load
than
allowed.
“We
do
have
records
of
that
particular
process
including
the
footage.
That
bus
complied.
There
were
no
additional
people.”
Probe
underway
The
BMA,
Masiapato
said,
is
unable
to
confirm
where
and
how
the
undocumented
passengers
boarded
the
bus,
however,
a
“full
investigation”
is
underway.
“The
driver
will
have
to
indicate
where
did
he
pick
up
those
people
and
the
driver,
by
the
way,
has
to
be
charged
for
aiding
and
abetting
according
to
section
59
of
the
Immigration
Act.
“Ultimately,
the
bus
will
then
have
to
be
charged
for
ferrying
illegal
migrants
inside
the
country
so
that
is
the
status.”
Call
for
stronger
law
enforcement
coordination
Meanwhile,
the
chairperson
of
Parliament’s
Portfolio
Committee
on
Home
Affairs,
Mosa
Chabane,
called
for
closer
cooperation
between
law
enforcement
agencies,
including
immigration
officers,
the
South
African
Police
Service
(Saps)
and
metro
police
departments
“An
integrated
law
enforcement
approach
is
critical
to
ensure
that
undocumented
individuals
within
our
borders
are
identified
and
processed
in
line
with
the
law.
“This
requires
ongoing
collaboration
and
information-sharing
between
all
relevant
authorities,”
Chabane
said
in
statement.
Source:
Bus
from
Zimbabwe
intercepted
after
legally
entering
SA
Post
published
in:
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