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- The State says it will oppose bail for a man accused of transporting illicit cigarettes worth R12 million.
- The NPA says the man, who is Zimbabwean, is in South Africa illegally.
- He allegedly slipped into SA while there was load shedding at the border gate, which had caused computers to be offline.
The North West National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has revealed that the Zimbabwean man who snuck into the country with illicit cigarettes worth R12 million, during load shedding, is in South Africa illegally.
Joseph Kusekwa, 43, was arrested on Friday last week and was expected to appear in the Lehurutshe Magistrate's Court for a bail application on Thursday.
Provincial NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame said Kusekwa was a Zimbabwean national who had no legal documentation to be in the country.
He added that the State intended to oppose his bail application.
News24 previously reported that the man had allegedly snuck into South Africa while there was load shedding at the border gate, which had caused computers to be offline.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda Funani said Kusekwa had entered South Africa from Botswana on Friday via the Skilpadshek port of entry.
READ | Ex-Beitbridge border staff convicted for helping to smuggle tobacco products worth R6m into SA
She said a police officer saw the truck leaving the border and driving towards Zeerust. He informed his commander, and the truck was stopped before it reached Zeerust, and the driver ordered to drive back to Skilpadshek. Customs officials inspected the truck and found boxes of cigarettes valued at more than R12 million.
Kusekwa first appeared in court on Monday.
The police official who allowed the truck to leave the border was being investigated, Funani previously told News24.
Mamothame confirmed this, saying: "The police also indicated that the police official, who allowed the truck to leave the border, is being investigated, and charges of defeating the ends of justice could be added when the investigations are concluded."
He said Kusekwa would remain in police custody until his next court appearance.
