20/10/2026
THREE POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO ACT WHEN 46 UNDOCUMENTED FOREIGN NATIONALS WERE FOUND IN A 22-SEATER MINIBUS ON N1
POLOKWANE-The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo has arrested three police officers attached to Polokwane International Airport for allegedly defeating the administration of justice and contravening Section 49 of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002).
The arrests were effected on the evening of Monday, 19 October 2026, by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, assisted by the Polokwane Tactical Response Team (TRT), following an extensive investigation into allegations that the members facilitated the evasion of lawful immigration enforcement processes by undocumented foreign nationals.
The three arrested suspects, comprising two males and one female, are aged between 44 and 49 years respectively.
On 17 April 2025, a traffic officer conducting duties along the N1 near Polokwane intercepted and arrested the driver of a 22-seater Mercedes-Benz minibus transporting 46 undocumented foreign nationals. The vehicle was subsequently escorted to the Polokwane N1 Weighbridge for further processing.
Upon arrival, it was confirmed that all 46 occupants were undocumented foreign nationals. Members attached to SAPS Polokwane International Airport were summoned to the scene to assist with the matter.
It is alleged that four male police officers and one female police officer attended the scene and thereafter informed the arresting traffic officer that arrangements had been made with the station commander to transport the undocumented foreign nationals to Polokwane SAPS for further processing.
The police officials subsequently departed with the undocumented foreign nationals. However, when the station commander and the arresting officer followed up at Polokwane SAPS, neither the police officials nor the undocumented foreign nationals could be located.
The matter was subsequently referred to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit for investigation.
Following investigations, the Director of Public Prosecution directed that the five implicated police officials be charged.
The three accused are expected to make their first appearance before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Efforts to locate and arrest the remaining two suspects are ongoing, and further arrests are imminent.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers, welcomed the arrests and commended the investigators for their dedication and commitment to ensuring accountability within the SAPS.
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