Polokwane – A Zimbabwean bus carrying 76 undocumented nationals was intercepted by police following a high-speed chase in Limpopo, in a major cross-border operation aimed at curbing illegal immigration.
The incident occurred on Monday, 30 June 2025, when members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Border Policing unit at Pontdrift, in collaboration with SANPARKS Rangers, stopped a Zimbabwean -registered bus travelling along the R521 road.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the bus driver ignored police instructions and attempted to flee, triggering a pursuit.
The vehicle was eventually intercepted on the R572 near Dongola Ranch.
“Upon conducting a thorough search of the bus, law enforcement officers discovered 76 undocumented Zimbabwean nationals on board, none of whom possessed valid passports or travel documents.
#sapsLIM A well-coordinated simultaneous joint operation between members of the SAPS Border Policing unit at Pontdrift and SANPARKS Rangers has led to a significant breakthrough in curbing illegal immigration.
On Monday 30/06, a Zimbabwean-registered bus was stopped along the… pic.twitter.com/1Oweq1jCnd
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) July 2, 2025
“The bus was subsequently escorted to the Beitbridge Port of Entry and handed over to Border Management Authority (BMA) officials for further processing and investigation,” Ledwaba said.
The 38-year-old Zimbabwean driver was arrested and charged with Conveyance of Illegal Immigrants under the Immigration Act.
A fine of R1,140,000 was imposed.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Limpopo’s Provincial Police Commissioner, praised the swift and coordinated response of the teams involved.
“This operation demonstrates our firm commitment to safeguarding our borders and ensuring that all those who undermine the country’s immigration laws are brought to book,” she said.
Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
