Two South Africans were yesterday ordered to pay fines of $30,000 each or spend 12 months in jail when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court after they entered Guyana illegally.

Francis Thulani, a 43-year-old engineer, and Jonny Momadugebuna, a football coach, both pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal entry into Guyana.

They admitted that they entered Guyana by sea on August 1 at Pomeroon River, Essequibo, without the consent of an immigration officer.

Their lawyer Adrian Thompson requested that the men be deported to their homeland since they were not in a position to pay the fines.

He told the court that his clients were brought to Guyana through Venezuela by a friend who had promised them that they would be able to explore here.

He said they had been locked up for over eight days and they had informed him that they were given nothing to eat or drink while incarcerated.

Thompson also noted that his clients had no relatives here and it would place a burden on the government to keep them imprisoned.

He said that the government would be responsible for feeding them although they can easily be deported back to South Africa.

The magistrate subsequently fined them $30,000 each with an alternative of 12 months in prison.  She also ordered that they be deported after whichever option they take.