MPs demand action after unroadworthy bus carrying 45 undocumented migrants stopped in Limpopo

Parliamentary committee urges tougher action after overloaded, unroadworthy bus intercepted

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has demanded stronger accountability after authorities intercepted an unroadworthy bus carrying undocumented migrants on the Malawi–Johannesburg route in Limpopo.

What happened

During an enforcement operation led by the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety and the South African Police Service, officials stopped a bus near Polokwane. Immigration officers established that 45 passengers did not have valid documentation to be in South Africa. The vehicle was escorted to the Polokwane Traffic Control Centre for further processing.

Parliamentary response

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, chaired by Mosa Chabane, called for stronger consequence management against officials of the Border Management Authority and the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency. Chabane joined the enforcement operation alongside Limpopo Police Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Hadebe.

“It is unacceptable that despite the mandates of the two agencies, incidents of foreign buses transporting illegal immigrants continue to be intercepted within the country. The two agencies must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to this illegality,”

Chabane said the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency had previously indicated it would take a hard-line stance by withdrawing permits from bus companies found to be transporting undocumented immigrants, but added there appeared to be no follow-through in enforcing the law.

“This year alone, numerous bus companies have been intercepted transporting illegal immigrants. There appears to be no follow-through in enforcing the law, which is unacceptable,”

He also highlighted concerns about the Border Management Authority’s funding challenges while stressing the need for decisive enforcement.

“Where there is illegality, it must be met with decisive law enforcement and consequences. We cannot and will not accept the subversion of our laws for nefarious and selfish ends,”

Safety and next steps

Chabane welcomed the work of the SAPS in intercepting the vehicle and called for a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach to curb the trend. He warned that the use of unroadworthy buses to transport undocumented migrants poses serious road safety risks and contributes to fatalities on South African roads.

The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety said that passengers legally in the country would be provided alternative transport, while the 45 passengers without documentation will be escorted back to the Beitbridge Border Control Centre for deportation proceedings. The matter remains under investigation by the South African Police Service and Immigration Services.

Background

• The interception follows other recent stops on the same route, including a bus found to be carrying 90 passengers despite being licensed for 70, and another stopped while carrying 75 passengers, 43 of whom were undocumented.