By Neelam Rahim

A video of four Bangladeshi and four Pakistani nationals who entered the country illegally has surfaced. The video shows how the men tried to evade security by passing through a fire hydrant at the O.R Tambo International airport.

Officials said they entered a tunnel network via a fire prevention system. 

It was determined that the group had boarded a flight from Doha, Qatar, to South Africa and had intended to breach past customs at OR Tambo Airport to enter Lesotho and Eswatini illegally. Police later arrested the eight illegal immigrants.

Transit visas are not required for travellers passing through South Africa to neighbouring countries. However, Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi has indicated that this has increased illegal activities.

“This is what they do and I think they are starting to abuse it. In this case, OR Tambo is used as a transit point”, he said.

Motsoaledi said those who were supposed to move to the transit lounge to go to the country they were supposed to go instead took a ‘detour’.

The police officer who is part of the security at the airport noticed and followed the group.

“One of them was holding a phone, which meant they were being directed through the airport because they do not know it, as they are not from here,” said Motsoaledi.

The illegal foreigners were interrogated for about eight hours, Mostoaledi confirmed, and it was determined that this was a trend abused by Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals since South Africa does not have strict transit visa rules.

Motsoaledi says his Department is considering reviving transit visas to help deal with foreign nationals entering South Africa illegally through O.R Tambo International Airport.

The latest arrest is part of ongoing Home Affairs authorities and police efforts to punish syndicates working with foreign nationals intending to enter the country illegally. Recently, the kingpin of a syndicate, fraudulently issuing passports and other crucial documents to foreign nationals, was arrested in a sting operation as per SABC News.

The ministers say authorities and law enforcement agencies will remain on high alert to ensure no corrupt or criminal activities occur at airports.