Durban Metro Police's recent operation has led to the arrest of 77 illegal immigrants, highlighting the complexities of undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa.
Image: Video screengrab
A recent operation by the Durban metro police aimed at tackling illegal immigration has led to the arrest of 77 undocumented foreign nationals across Durban.
The operation formed part of ongoing efforts by the metro police to address concerns relating to undocumented immigrants and alleged non-compliance with South Africa’s immigration laws.
Metro police spokesperson Boysie Zungu said the operation had yielded significant results so far, with some of those detained allegedly found in possession of fraudulent documentation, which raised concerns around immigration control processes.
Among those arrested were street vendors allegedly operating without the required legal permits.
Zungu said the operations were conducted daily at various locations across Durban as part of a broader law enforcement initiative within the eThekwini Municipality.
He said that they had responded to complaints from members of the public regarding undocumented individuals, with the aim of improving safety and enforcing municipal and immigration regulations.
“All arrested individuals were handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation and processing in accordance with South African immigration legislation,” said Zungu.
He also encouraged residents to continue reporting illegal activities they noticed, as community participation remained an important component of the city’s law enforcement strategy.
According to Zungu, weekly updates would be issued to keep the public informed about the operation’s progress and outcomes.
The March and March Movement have been outspoken about the policing of undocumented foreigners in the country.
The organisation has made sustained calls to law enforcement agencies to intensify operations targeting undocumented immigrants and they have staged protests in various parts of the country in support of stricter immigration enforcement.
DAILY NEWS