Durban – Police are on the trail of seven illegal immigrants who managed to escape from a van of the Department of Home Affairs in which they were being transported.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Thembeka Mbhele on Thursday said that immigrants, who were facing deportation, were being transported to Pietermaritzburg.
She said that the driver of the van, a Department of Home Affairs official, noticed two of the immigrants jumping from his van.
It is believed that they broke a lock on a vehicle.
“He then drove at a high speed to try and prevent them from escaping and jumping out of the van. But when he got to the toll, he had to slow down. They all jumped out and fled.”
She said police had responded and that so far one of those who had jumped from the van had been arrested.
“They were all facing deportation,” she said.
She said police were not immediately aware if any of those still on the run were criminals or posed any threat.
“This has been not yet established,” she said.