A dramatic border bust near Pontdrift in Limpopo has spotlighted South Africa’s intensifying crackdown on illegal immigration. On Monday, June 30, 2025, a 38-year-old Zimbabwean bus driver was arrested after a high-speed chase ended in the interception of a bus carrying 76 undocumented Zimbabwean nationals. The bus, registered in Zimbabwe, initially refused to stop for authorities on the R521, sparking a pursuit that concluded on the R572 near Dongola Ranch.
When officers from the SAPS Border Policing unit and SANPARKS Rangers finally stopped the vehicle, they discovered all 76 passengers on board were without passports or valid travel documents. The driver now faces serious charges under immigration law and was slapped with a hefty fine of R1,140,000. The group was transported under escort to the Beitbridge Port of Entry for further processing by the Border Management Authority.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, praised the operation as a clear signal to traffickers and smugglers that border violations will not be tolerated. The arrest forms part of an ongoing effort to tighten control over South Africa’s northern borders, where illegal crossings remain a persistent concern. Authorities have pledged to maintain high-alert operations and ensure lawbreakers are held accountable.
