Only nine of the Ten arrested Ethiopian spaza shop operators appeared at the Bolobedu Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday ( 29 April 2026)
All nine accused were present without a lawyer and requested an Aramaic language translator before a bail hearing.
The accused were arrested on Monday in a collaboration between the SAPS and Tzaneen Immigration Officers.
The operation targeted spaza shops operating under the Greater Tzaneen Municipality of Mokwakwaila, Ga_ Mokgwathi, and Ga_ Ramotshinyadi villages on the outskirts of Tzaneen town.
During the operation, 10 male Ethiopian nationals aged between 19 and 35 years were arrested for being in the country illegally.
The suspects are facing charges relating to the Contravention of the Immigration Act.
Immigration officers who attended the court case refused to engage with the media regarding the whereabouts of the remaining accused.
The accused family representative, who preferred to be anonymous, said they would first hold a meeting with the senior family members before appointing a legal representative for the accused.
However, they seemed unbothered by the missing tenth accused in court.
The matter has been remanded to 04 May 2026 for an Aramaic language translator.
All nine accused remain in custody.