Mozambique national pleads ignorance of passport requirement
ALEXANDRA – Remorse plea earns illegal migrant R500 fine, 30 days jail time.
An undocumented Mozambican migrant’s plea of ignorance of the country’s migration laws still landed him 30 days of jail time or a R500 fine in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.
Accused Ernest Makhukhula (25) who pleaded guilty to the offence was arrested by the police while hawking at Pan Africa Mall. He chose to represent himself and claimed that he was unaware of the requirement for a passport when he illegally crossed the border into South Africa in February 2015.
He pleaded for mercy and the magistrate took into account his remorse, daily income of R100 to R200 and that he had no previous criminal record. The magistrate said the sentence was also to instil public confidence in the courts for an offence that was prevalent in the magisterial area.
Related article:
Home Affairs rolls out more bank branches to get your smart ID and passport
