South Africa Arrests 127 Undocumented Foreign Nationals

South African authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal immigration, resulting in the arrest of 127 undocumented foreign nationals. This operation involved coordinated efforts by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Home Affairs across various regions.

Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber stated that the operation, dubbed "Operation New Broom," was aimed at enforcing immigration laws and restoring the rule of law. In Pretoria, numerous undocumented migrants were arrested and are now facing deportation.

Additionally, in Stilfontein, a separate operation named "Operation Prosper" led to the arrest of 24 undocumented foreign nationals linked to illegal mining activities, along with one suspect for attempting to bribe law enforcement. In Limpopo Province, various operations resulted in the repatriation of 115 undocumented Zimbabwean nationals, with 12 others, including nine Ethiopians and three Ghanaians, arrested for violating immigration laws.

This crackdown follows a previous nationwide enforcement exercise in mid-July, which saw over 1,200 arrests, including 159 undocumented foreign nationals.