Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A ZIMBABWEAN truck driver has been convicted and sentenced to a fine of R10 million or five years’ imprisonment after he was caught transporting illicit cigarettes valued at over R10,4 million through the Beitbridge Border Post into South Africa.
The Giyani Magistrates Court convicted Godknows Mangani Demanyundo (54) on Tuesday after his arrest on June 10, 2025.
He was found with contraband Chelsea cigarettes concealed inside a tanker during routine cargo scanning operations at the Musina-Beitbridge Port of Entry.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson for Limpopo province, Colonel Avele Fumba, said the conviction was secured through collaborative efforts of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), South African Police Service (SAPS), Border Management Authority (BMA), Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Musina.
“A SARS cargo analyst detected suspicious images during routine scanner analysis and alerted the team leader, who notified SAPS,” he said.
“A joint physical inspection by SAPS and BMA officials uncovered 500 master boxes, seven cartons and six packets of Chelsea cigarettes valued at over R10.4 million.”
Col Fumba said LCRC members documented the exhibits for evidential purposes, SAPS arrested the suspect, and the Hawks took over the investigation, gathered and examined evidence, and built a case that resulted in conviction.
“In addition to the fine, the illicit cigarettes, together with the truck and tanker trailer used to transport the consignment, were forfeited to the State. Demanyundo was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” he said.
The case comes as security agencies from both Zimbabwe and South Africa have intensified joint operations to curb smuggling of goods into either country through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River and the Beitbridge Border Post.
It is understood that periodic joint patrols, intelligence sharing and use of scanning technology have become central to curbing illicit trade in cigarettes, liquor, groceries and second-hand clothes, which prejudices both economies of revenue and fuels organised crime.
So far, South African authorities have had more than 10 cigarette-smuggling or interception cases in Limpopo province alone, since January 2026, with reported cigarette values ranging from about R40 000 to R25 million per incident.
Cigarette smuggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa is common due to their high profitability, and in some instances the cigarettes can be produced or routed through Zimbabwe with lower tax and regulatory costs, then sold in South Africa far below the price of tax-compliant products.
It is reported that South Africa’s large consumer market, porous border, and enforcement gaps make it the main destination.
Indications suggest that South Africa imposes excise duty, VAT, and import duties on legal cigarettes, resulting in some syndicates smuggling cigarettes to avoid these charges, allowing sellers to undercut legal brands while retaining high margins.
Source: Zimbabwean truck driver fined R10 million for smuggling cigarettes into SA – herald
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