Tanzanians Fined for Illegal Travel to South Africa

Tanzanians Sentenced to Fine or Jail for Illegal Migration to South Africa

March 12, 2025

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – A total of 36 Tanzanian nationals have been sentenced by the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court to either pay a fine of Sh30,000 each or face three months in jail for unlawfully leaving the country and traveling to South Africa without proper immigration procedures.

The court ruling, delivered by Senior Resident Magistrate Geofrey Mhini, follows the accused individuals’ admission of guilt, leading to their conviction. The convicted individuals include Said Bura (25) from Kizuia, Allen William (21) from Mwanza, Hamad Magimaba (25) from Charambe, Baton Tarimo (31) from Kinondoni, Jovin Nguma (45) from Sinza, Joseph Mkunde (37) from Kigogo, along with 30 others.

Illegal Departure and Arrest

According to the Immigration Department’s legal team, led by Prosecutors Raphael Mpuya and Hadija Masoud, the accused departed Tanzania unlawfully on March 5, 2025, from Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) without adhering to official immigration protocols.

Mpuya stated that the accused individuals traveled to South Africa through unauthorized routes, bypassing border control checkpoints and lacking valid travel documents. Upon arrival in South Africa, they struggled to find employment and ended up wandering aimlessly. Eventually, they were arrested in immigration crackdowns at different times and held in various detention centers across South Africa.

Repatriation and Legal Proceedings

Following their detention, Tanzanian authorities coordinated their repatriation, and on March 5, 2025, they were deported back to Tanzania via JNIA, where immigration officials immediately apprehended them. The group was taken to the Dar es Salaam Immigration Office for interrogation before being formally charged in court.

Upon being presented before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court, all 36 individuals pleaded guilty, leading to their conviction.

Legal Arguments and Sentencing

During the sentencing, Defense Attorney Godfrey Mpandikizi, representing the suspects on behalf of the Tanzania Anti-Human Trafficking and Legal Initiatives (TATLI), requested leniency, emphasizing that this was their first offense.

Conversely, the prosecution urged the court to impose a punishment that would serve as a deterrent to discourage others from engaging in similar illegal migrations. Prosecutor Mpuya highlighted that the government incurred significant costs in repatriating the accused using a state-funded flight, reinforcing the need for a stringent penalty.

After reviewing arguments from both sides, Magistrate Mhini ruled that each of the 36 convicts must either pay a fine of Sh30,000 or face three months in prison in the event of non-payment.

This case underscores the Tanzanian government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and curbing illegal migration to foreign countries.