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The government of South Africa has sent 25 foreign nationals in the country packing.
The foreign nationals were accused of trying to enter the country via Gauteng's and Tambo International Airport (Ortia) during the week.
According to the Commissioner of Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato; "13 Bangladeshis, three Pakistanis, a Bangladeshi, a Nigerian, three Pakistanis and four Ghanaians were intercepted at the airport and stopped from continuing on their travels here in SA.
"The Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals were found in possession of fake visitors' visas while the remainder of the nationals failed to meet the relevant entry requirements on arrival."
The BMA explained that the travellers were intercepted on flights travelling to SA from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ghana and Nigeria.
"They were deported in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)regulations. ICAO provides global standards for air transport operations and highlight that a person who had entered a state illegally or denied entry shall be returned to their countries of origin by the respective airlines that brought them to South Africa and shall bear the costs of that particular travel," Masiapato said.
Masiapato also said five Bangladeshi and five Ethiopian nationals were intercepted at the same airport, commending the operations by BMA officials at Ortia and highlighted that as the biggest and busiest airport in Africa, detection systems need to continue to be advanced.
Travellers are warned to avoid attempting to enter South Africa illegally as they will be caught by BMA officials.
