Twenty-four foreign nationals and a South African citizen are expected to appear in the Mankweng Magistrate's Court in Polokwane on Monday after they were caught along the R81 road in Solomondale trafficking people through the Munik road from the Beitbridge Port of Entry in Musina from Zimbabwe.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says SAPS Limpopo and two private security companies gathered intel on Saturday about a Toyota Quantum ferrying 23 Ethiopian male nationals in a 15-seater.
He says the driver of the taxi was a 44-year-old South African citizen.
The foreign nationals aged between 20 and 38 years were illegally smuggled into South Africa from Ethiopia through Zimbabwe.
Colonel Ledwaba says while the passengers were being screened, they suddenly saw a white Toyota Fortuner stopping at the scene.
He says the driver was also a foreign national with an unlicensed firearm that was confiscated at the scene.
Colonel Ledwaba says the driver reportedly offered police R5 000 to let the Quantam and the passengers go free.
He says the two drivers were also arrested on the spot and will face charges of human trafficking, bribery and contravention of the immigration act.
