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.
Arrests carried out after lengthy investigation
The arrests were acrried out on the evening of Monday, 19 October 2026, by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, assisted by the Polokwane Tactical Response Team (TRT). They followed an extensive investigation into claims that the officers facilitated the evasion of lawful immigration enforcement by undocumented foreign nationals.
The three suspects – two men and one woman – are aged between 44 and 49.
How the case began
The case originates from an incident on 17 April 2025. A traffic officer on duty along the N1 near Polokwane stopped a 22-seater Mercedes-Benz minibus and arrested its driver. The vehicle was found to be transporting 46 undocumented foreign nationals and was escorted to the Polokwane N1 Weighbridge for processing.
All 46 occupants were confirmed to be undocumented. Officers from SAPS Polokwane International Airport were called to the scene to assist.
Officers allegedly take group away
It is alleged that four male officers and one female officer arrived and informed the traffic officer that arrangements had been made with the station commander to take the group to Polokwane SAPS for further processing. The airport officers then left with the undocumented nationals.
When the station commander and the arresting officer later checked at Polokwane SAPS, neither the officers nor the group could be found.
Court appearance and further arrests expected
The matter was referred to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit. After investigation, the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the five implicated officers be charged.
The three arrested officers are expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Efforts to locate and arrest the remaining two suspects continue, with further arrests said to be imminent.
Commissioner welcomes action
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers welcomed the arrests and praised the investigators for their commitment to accountability within the SAPS.
Police investigations remain ongoing.