The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) intercepted a taxi transporting 34 adults and 10 children, all undocumented foreign nationals, on the N1 in Tshwane on Monday.

All 44 were nabbed while the TMPD Freeway Unit was executing its usual patrols on the N1 southbound at the Hammanskraal exit.

It is reported that a security officer stopped the TMPD to report an overloaded minibus taxi in the northern region of Pretoria.

According to TMPD spokesperson Sergeant Rebone Molapo, the unit acted on the information and approached the minibus taxi.

“The members found a minibus taxi that was facing oncoming traffic, with 44 occupants comprising 34 adults and 10 children.

“It was discovered that all 44 people were undocumented, and on a journey from Malawi to Johannesburg,” says Molapo.

Molapo says they had no luggage with them. They were detained by police and charged with being in the country illegally.

“The driver was charged for failing to produce driving documents and being in the country illegally,” he says.