Members of the Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team, Crime Intelligence Unit in collaboration with private security have arrested two suspects aged 27 and 37 in connection with human smuggling. The suspect's vehicle was intercepted along the N1 North in Polokwane on Friday.

According to SAPS spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the police swiftly acted on intelligence driven information about foreign nationals being smuggled into country through Beitbridge border post, outside Musina. "Leads were followed and the described white Toyota Quantum was spotted travelling along the N1 North. The vehicle was tactically stopped and searched. Police discovered eight illegal immigrants all males as well as two South African males, a driver with his passenger. The duo failed to give a satisfactory explanation about the origin and the destination of the people they were transporting," Ledwaba. He said the suspects, the driver and his passenger were immediately arrested.

 He said the eight foreign nationals from different countries aged between 18 and 25 are facing charges of contravention of the Immigration Act and the other two suspects aged 27 and 37 are facing human smuggling cases. "Preliminary reports indicated that the eight illegal immigrants were smuggled into the country from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They were kept at a house in Louis Trichardt and at the time of their arrest they were being transported to Gauteng,"he said. The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has applauded the members for arresting the suspects. She ordered a thorough investigation into the matter to curb the human smuggling incidents in the province. The suspects will all appear before the Polokwane Magistrates Court tomorrow. Police investigations are still continuing.