A German man wanted by Interpol for alleged drug trafficking was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport. (Gallo Images)
A German man wanted by Interpol for alleged drug trafficking was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport. (Gallo Images)

•     A German man wanted by Interpol for alleged drug trafficking was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport.
•     The man has been on the run for eight years, according to South Africa's Border Management Authority.
•     He was found to be travelling with a fraudulent Israeli passport, according to police.

A German man who was on Interpol's most wanted list for alleged drug trafficking was arrested during a routine border operation at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday.

According to South Africa's Border Management Authority (BMA), the man was on the run for eight years.

He travelled from South Africa to Turkey, allegedly on a fraudulent Israeli passport, but was sent back to South Africa, where BMA officials realised that he had a German accent even though he insisted he was an Israeli national.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) confirmed from the Israeli Embassy that the man was not an Israeli national.

"Interpol was contacted and the suspect was found to be on the red list of the most wanted and had evaded arrest for drug trafficking for the past eight years," BMA commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said.

"The suspect was also found to have an international warrant of arrest and had been living in Malawi under a new identity and in possession of a Malawian temporary residence. He was found to have travelled under the German and Israeli passports and also suspected to have stolen the Israeli identity."

Interpol immediately arrested the man, and he is still in custody awaiting extradition to Germany, Masiapato added.

"This interception underscores the critical role the BMA plays in safeguarding South Africa's ports of entry and collaborating with international security agencies to combat transnational crime. Our robust systems and partnerships with Interpol and other global entities have proven indispensable in protecting our nation's security and integrity."

This apprehension "sends a clear message that South Africa's ports are fortified against individuals who seek to exploit them for illegal purposes", Masiapato added.

Masiapato and executive director of Interpol NCB Pretoria, Brigadier Ntime Mokhine, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Pretoria on Thursday to reflect their commitment to enhancing the security of South Africa's ports of entry.

In 2024, driving emerges as a considerably cheaper option than flying for Christmas travel in South Africa.

This is especially true for journeys between Johannesburg and major holiday destinations like Cape Town or Durban.

A return trip by car costs approximately R4,192 to Cape Town and R2,181 to Durban.

In contrast, average round-trip flight prices for the same routes are significantly higher, at R6,913 and R4,169, respectively.

One of the key reasons for this disparity is the welcome relief at the petrol pump.

South Africans can expect a reduction of over R2 per litre in petrol prices in December 2024 compared to the previous year.

This decrease substantially lowers fuel expenses, making road travel even more attractive for budget-conscious holidaymakers.

For families, the savings become even more pronounced. A car trip costs the same regardless of the number of passengers, making it far more economical for a group of four compared to flying.

A family traveling by car would need to spend an extraordinary amount—around R23,000 for Cape Town or R16,000 for Durban on overnight accommodation during the journey—to match the cost of plane tickets for four.

BusinessTech looked at the price of a round trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town and Durban with the most popular cars per vehicle type (prices sourced from TopAuto. Prices also include toll fees)

JHB to CPT
Type    Car    Consumption
per 100km    Single Trip    Return Trip
SUV    Toyota Corolla Cross    6.8L    R2,258.28    R4,516.56
Bakkie    Toyota Hilux    7.1L*    R2,085.67    R4,171.34
Hatchback    VW Polo Vivo 1.6    6.1L    R2,169.03    R4,338.06
Crossover     Suzuki Fronx    5.5L    R1,871.47    R3,742.94
*Diesel

JHB to DBN
Type    Car    Consumption
er 100km    Single Trip    Return Trip
SUV    Toyota Corolla Cross    6.8L    R1,157.13    R2,314.26
Bakkie    Toyota Hilux    7.1L*    R1,086.53    R2,173.06
Hatchback    VW Polo Vivo 1.6    6.2L    R1,120.71    R2,241.42
Crossover     Suzuki Fronx    5.5L    R999.08    R1,998.16
*Diesel

Below are the prices per airline for a round trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town and Durban for a 10-day holiday during Christmas (20 Dec 2024 to 2 Jan 2025)*.
Airline    Round trip price
(JHB to CPT)    Round trip price
(JHB to DBN)
CemAir    R6,858    R5,168
FlySafair    R6,122    R3,822
Lift    R6,950    R3,850
Airlink    R6,268    R3,778
SAA    R8,371    R4,231

Even factoring in potential overnight stops for rest during the roughly 15-hour drive to Cape Town, driving remains the more affordable option.

The cost of air travel has risen notably, putting additional strain on holiday budgets.

Increased operational costs for airlines, such as higher airport fees, maintenance costs, and rising demand during the festive season, have pushed ticket prices higher.

Additionally, the demand for air travel spikes during the Christmas period, further driving up prices.

Despite the convenience and time savings offered by air travel—especially for those who can afford the higher prices—the financial benefit of driving is hard to ignore.

For solo travelers, couples, or families, the significant cost difference makes driving the preferred option.

While flying takes only a few hours and eliminates the need for overnight stops, the price gap is difficult to justify for many South Africans, especially during a time when budgets are often stretched.

Ultimately, whether traveling solo or with loved ones, South Africans planning their festive season getaways are likely to find driving the more economical choice for Christmas 2024.

*Prices sourced from each airline’s website Departing flights were for Friday, 6 December, while return flights were for Thursday, 02 January. Air travel prices are prone to change and not all airlines offer the same packages.

There have been numerous pleas to South Africans to switch to smart ID cards, but many are still reluctant to the idea for a few reasons.

It has been 44 years now that green ID books have been used in South Africa. One might think the reason for the reluctantly to change to a smart ID is possibly some form of emotional attachment to the document. However, some have revealed the real reason why.

Millions of South Africans are still using green ID books. Newzroom Afrika took to the streets on 14 November 2024 to find out from some citizens why they still don’t have smart IDs. Those interviewed said they hadn’t parted with their ID books because of two main reasons; long queues and cost.

WHY DO SOME SOUTH AFRICANS STILL DON’T HAVE SMART ID CARDS?

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, the few citizens given the chance to share their reasons for not having smart IDs mentioned two reasons. They expressed that there should be no cost for IDs and that the long queues at Home Affairs put them off. One of them said there are usually long queues at Home Affairs and you still don’t get assisted “even if you pay someone to hold the line for you.”

Another citizen bemoaned the required payment for the smart ID. She complained: “I’m not willing to pay R140 to change it. They changed the system, so they need to give me the first one for free, and then if I lose it, I’ll pay for it. I’m not willing to pay because they changed the system.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURITY

The Department of Home Affairs frequently reminds citizens that there are better security features in the smart ID card. These features help improve the security of their identity. According to MyBroadband, a 2024 report by Smile ID Digital Identity Fraud revealed in their Know-Your-Customer checks identified fraud. It detected fraud in about 34% of incidents where the green ID book used during the accessing of different services.

The South African reported a warning from Home Affairs to SASSA beneficiaries on 26 October 2024. The Department said beneficiaries without smart ID cards are vulnerable to identify theft and fraud.

OLD DOCUMENTS REMAINING VALID COULD INCREASE FRAUD

Smile ID further stated that the green ID book remaining valid after switching to the smart card could increase fraud. The report said: “Logistical issues around properly discarding the older IDs can lead to them falling into the wrong hands.”

HAVE YOU CHANGED TO A SMART ID YET?

Generally speaking, in terms of Regulation 9(5)(a) of the Immigration Regulations, an applicant who wishes to renew an existing visa or change the condition of their visa must submit their application 60 days before the expiration of their existing visa. If a situation arises where an application is not submitted timeously and the previous temporary residency visa expires, one can find themselves as illegal in South Africa due to their overstay, even if the situation surrounding the overstay was beyond the applicant’s control. As an illegal foreigner, an applicant is then in contravention of section 49 of the Immigration Act and is guilty of an offence. Where a person has overstayed and not attempted to remedy their situation from within the country, upon departure the person in question will be declared an undesirable person and being able to return to South Africa will be dependent on an appeal to the Department of Home Affairs. This process can be very stressful and often not an option for foreigners living in South Africa, especially if their family is here. Until the undesirability is uplifted, it is possible an applicant could be stuck abroad for one to five years. Further compounding the situation of an overstay, VFS Global South Africa will not accept any application for a renewal visa or change of conditions through their offices unless the applicant has a valid visa or a Form 20 issued by the Department of Home Affairs. How do I prevent overstaying my visa? In order to prevent overstaying a visa, it is highly recommended that an applicant starts compiling documentation for renewal or a change of status four months prior to the expiration of their temporary residency visa. Further, submission of an application for a renewal visa or for a change of status shall be submitted no later than two months before the expiration of the applicant’s current visa. If I overstay, must I leave the country? Overstaying a visa does not mean an applicant must immediately depart South Africa. In fact, it is entirely possible that an applicant who has overstayed has obligations in South Africa that makes it nearly impossible for them to leave. How do I remedy my overstay without leaving South Africa? In order to remedy this situation within South Africa, it is necessary to apply to the Director-General, in writing, to remain in South Africa pending an application for status. This application is done at the Department of Home Affairs via an Immigration Officer. In terms of section 32(1) of the Immigration Act and its corresponding regulation, a foreigner who wishes to apply for a status after the date of expiration of their visa must demonstrate two things: 1.    The applicant must be able to demonstrate, in writing, to an immigration official that the reason for your overstay was not due to negligence, but rather it was due to a situation beyond the applicant’s control. 2.    A copy of a complete application that is ready for submission must also be presented to the immigration official that will assess the merits of the applicant’s case. How long does it take to remedy my overstay? Once an application to remedy an overstay has been submitted with the Department, the applicant will be given a Form 23 – which is a notice by an immigration officer to person to appear before the Director-General. Practically speaking, this means that pending a final decision of an application for status, the applicant is to appear at the same home affairs where the applicant submitted their documents in order to follow-up on the application. The process of finalizing an application for status can take as little as two weeks to a month but in practice takes much longer. If an application for status is adjudicated successfully, then the applicant will be given a Form 20, which is an “Authorization for an illegal foreigner to remain in the Republic pending an application for status”. The Form 20 allows an applicant to immediately make an appointment with VFS and submit their application for a renewal or change of condition to the last visa that was held. What is my application for status is rejected? If an application for status is rejected, this means that the Department of Home Affairs did not find the situation surrounding the applicant’s late submission as reasons beyond their control – and therefore the actions surrounding the overstay are considered to be intentional. In terms of the Act and the Regulations, an Immigration Officer may order the applicant to depart from South Africa within 14 days if an application for status is rejected. Alternatively and often in practice, the Department will give the option of a criminal fine (otherwise known as an admission of guilt fine) for the overstay. However, a criminal fine will lead to a criminal conviction and this will affect the applicant’s criminal record in South Africa and possibly future visa applications both in South Africa and for other countries.