A search conducted on January 10 under SAPS’s Operation Safer Festive Season led to the arrest of 12 individuals for various offences on the R40 in the Dwarsloop area.

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When a minibus with Mozambican licence plates was stopped and searched, police found that 10 suspects were in contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa. All were believed to be illegal immigrants from Mozambique. A further two suspects were arrested for alleged human trafficking.

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“The detectives are working collaboratively with officials from the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain the status of the arrested suspects,” confirmed SAPS spokesperson Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court soon.