Bus driver caught with 16 passports

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A 42-year-old cross-border bus driver has been arrested by South African police after he was found with 16 passports which he had fraudulently facilitated their endorsement on behalf of Zimbabweans illegally staying in the neighbouring country. Some Zimbabweans illegally living in South Africa occasionally give cross-border bus drivers their passports for endorsement at the border.

It would then appear as if they would have returned to Zimbabwe at some point and this “legalises” their stay in that country.

It is also reported that the police are investigating two immigration officers who are said to have stamped the passports for a fee in the absence of their owners.

Limpopo police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe identified the suspect as Smangaliso Ndlovu.

“On Saturday around 1400hrs, Smangaliso Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean national aged 42 was arrested at Beitbridge Border Post, after a scanner detected 16 passports he was carrying in a carrier bag,” he said.

“We have since established that all the passports had different stamps. The man has been charged with possession of stolen properties.

“He appeared at the Musina Magistrate Court today (yesterday), where he was remanded in custody to 29 March pending further investigations.”

Lt-Col Ngoepe said they were yet to confirm if Ndlovu was fully employed by the bus company.

Under South Africa’s immigration laws, Zimbabweans are allowed a stay for 90 days in that country per year.

However, immigration officers at the border are reluctant to give Zimbabweans more days.

This has seen some syndicates exploiting an opportunity to award people 90 days per each single entry for a fee.