Twelve Arrested in Witbank for Immigration Violations
Twelve suspects, aged between 18 and 37, remain in custody after being arrested in Witbank as part of Operation Vala Umgodi. They were charged with contravening the Immigration Act of South Africa and appeared in the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on April 8, 2025. The case has been postponed to April 15, 2025.
nnnnThe arrested individuals have been identified as:
nnnnOfonso Fenado (26)
nnnnAmando Mucombwe (31)
nnnnIsalas Simone (37)
nnnnMoises Antonio Sithole (22)
nnnnAmos Mutisi (19)
nnnnMateus Muthi (20)
nnnnManual Tivana (18)
nnnnJose Joa (33)
nnnnVisco Meque (29)
nnnnJossias Sibanda (22)
nnnnJoaquin Simango (18)
nnnnSamissore Ponte (24)
nnnnThe arrests took place on Sunday, April 6, 2025, after proactive officers conducted stop-and-search operations at the Middleburg Toll Plaza. The suspects were found inside a minibus, prompting a search by the authorities.
nnnnPolice investigators are collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to verify the immigration status of the arrested individuals.
nnnnMajor General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, commended the dedicated team involved in Operation Vala Umgodi for their ongoing efforts to tackle illegal immigration and associated crimes in the region.
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