Seventeen passengers, including minors, were detained during a roadblock in KwaZulu-Natal. A minibus taxi was flagged during an operation led by the MEC Champion for uMkhanyakude District, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, who's also KZN Agriculture and Rural Development MEC. | Supplied
Durban — A roadblock on the N2 in KwaZulu-Natal netted 17 passengers for possible deportation.
According to information received by the Daily News, 17 passengers and a driver boarding a minibus taxi with Mozambican registration numbers were processed for possible deportation by Immigration officers during a roadblock on the N2 in Mtubatuba, northern KZN, on Wednesday.
The minibus taxi was flagged in an operation led by uMkhanyakude District champion Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, who is also KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) MEC.
KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said that preliminary investigation at the roadblock revealed that the vehicle was coming from Mozambique to various parts of KZN such as KwaDukuza, Mandeni and eThekwini.
She said it is believed some were being trafficked. They included two minors who were processed by officials of the Department of Social Development.
“We have stopped a number of vehicles that were both south and northbound. We were shocked to learn of a minibus taxi that had apparently entered South African shores illegally,” KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said.
“We were able to identify a kombi from Mozambique. It had seven males, women, and children without any documents to be in South Africa, all suspected of being illegal immigrants. There were also five women believed to have been trafficked from Mozambique to Mandeni. They were also two minors thought to have been taken for human trafficking too.
“Fortunately, we are a big team of law enforcement consisting of police, home affairs officials, transport, and the Department of Social Development.”
Additionally, kaMadlopha-Mthethwa paid a special tribute to the road traffic officers and other law-enforcement agencies for what she described as sterling work in protecting the country’s citizens on the roads. The deployment included SAPS, Road Traffic Inspectorate, and South African National Defence Force.
“Today, I want to pay a special tribute to the men and women in blue for their sterling work in protecting our citizens on the country's road networks. While many people are on holiday and enjoying themselves, you're out here protecting us and ensuring that we arrive alive to our various destinations,” kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said.
The MEC Champion for uMkhanyakude District also encouraged motorists and pedestrians to be safe ahead of Christmas and New Year holidays.
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