Three arrested in Benoni after overloaded cross‑border minibus found carrying undocumented passengers

Two undocumented foreign nationals and a cross‑border transport driver were arrested this week in Benoni after officers discovered an overloaded minibus carrying passengers who could not all be verified.

Stop and inspection on Snake Road

Officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Overload Unit observed a vehicle attempting to offload passengers on the freeway during patrols between Putfontein Road and Snake Road in the Benoni area. The driver was directed to Snake Road for inspection.

Overloaded vehicle and missing documentation

The vehicle, a 14‑seater minibus, was found transporting 15 passengers, exceeding its legal capacity. Further checks showed that one passenger was not listed on the official passenger manifest. During verification, one male passenger not on the manifest failed to produce any form of identification or travel documentation, and another passenger named on the manifest could not provide a valid passport.

Arrests and detentions

As a result of the inspection, two undocumented foreign nationals were apprehended for contravening the Immigration Act. The minibus driver was also arrested for allegedly aiding undocumented foreign nationals by facilitating their unlawful entry and transportation within the country. The three were detained at the Benoni police station.

Company inspections and fines

Separately, EMPD Overloads Unit officers and members of the South African Police Service inspected companies in the Benoni area and apprehended two employers for employing undocumented foreign nationals.

• A 28‑year‑old employer was found to have employed one undocumented foreign national without a valid work permit and was issued a J534 admission of guilt fine of R5 000.
• A 26‑year‑old employer was found to have employed four undocumented foreign nationals and was issued with four J534 admission of guilt fines totaling R20 000.

Both employers settled their admission of guilt fines. All five undocumented foreign nationals, aged between 24 and 31, were detained for further processing under immigration legislation.

Investigation and enforcement

The EMPD handled the stop, the subsequent arrests and the company inspections. The case highlights the department’s enforcement actions around overloaded cross‑border transport and employment of undocumented foreign nationals in the Benoni area.