Barberton – The minibus taxi driver who was arrested along with 23 foreign nationals from Bangladesh and Pakistan who had allegedly jumped the border into South Africa has been named in court as 33-year-old Sibusiso Malwane.
The South African Quantum driver and 23 Bangladeshis and Pakistanis appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court, in Mpumalanga, on Wednesday.
At least two of the arrested foreign nationals are teenagers.
All the accused were arrested on Monday, (13 November 2023), when their minibus taxi was stopped by the police, who were acting on a tip-off.
Police said the foreign nationals were suspected of crossing into South Africa illegally.
Those with passports did not have entry stamps that would indicate they came through a border legally.
On Wednesday, the court remanded all the accused in custody.
The case against Malwane was postponed to Thursday, 16:November 2023 for consultation with the Lawyer at Low’s Creek Periodical Court.
The case against the 23 foreign nationals was postponed to Monday, (20 November 2023), to enable the court to secure the services of an interpreter for both nationalities.
