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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
South African police have intercepted 87 Malawian illegal migrants near Polokwane in Limpopo province who were being transported in a truck and are believed to have found their way into the neighbouring country through an illegal entry point along the Limpopo River.

The border jumpers were reportedly being transported to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said they intercepted the truck under the Westenburg policing area yesterday morning.

He said they had since arrested the 50-year-old truck driver for bribery and other additional criminal charges.

“His arrest follows an incident which occurred in the early hours of this morning (yesterday) when a truck failed to adhere to the traffic sign, going into the Polokwane Traffic Control Centre,” Col Ngoepe said.

“Subsequently, the provincial traffic police officers pulled it off the road and discovered 87 undocumented Malawian nationals. The driver was immediately arrested. The police were then summoned and started initial investigations.

“These people are still being processed accordingly and the driver will appear before the Polokwane magistrates’ court soon.”