More than 40 000 illegal foreign nationals have been arrested since the beginning of 2026, including a business owner caught employing undocumented migrants and nine Bangladeshi nationals intercepted with fraudulent visas at OR Tambo International Airport.
The arrests, which include over 7 400 made in the past month alone, were revealed during a media briefing on Sunday by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, as government intensifies efforts to tackle illegal immigration and strengthen border security.
In one of the most significant recent operations, authorities intercepted ABBA, a precursor chemical for Mandrax, with a street value of just below R1 billion at Beitbridge border post.
A total of 143 people were also arrested for inciting violence, as government targets those stoking unrest around migration issues.
The figures were revealed by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, who leads the Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted by President Cyril Ramaphosa to coordinate government’s work on migration in South Africa.
Employers arrested for hiring illegal workers
Multi-disciplinary law enforcement operations have resulted in the arrest of employers found to be illegally hiring undocumented foreign nationals, demonstrating government’s commitment to targeting those who enable illegal immigration.
In KwaZulu-Natal, a night operation conducted on 4 June at two clothing manufacturing facilities in the Riverside Industrial Area, Newcastle, resulted in the arrest of a business owner who had illegally employed undocumented migrants. The workers were also arrested.
A similar operation in Tshwane saw 35 arrests made, including two employers caught employing undocumented foreign nationals.
An inspection at a residential estate in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, on 3 June resulted in the arrest of 15 foreign nationals for immigration-related contraventions.
The operations, led by the deputy ministers of Home Affairs, Police and Labour and Employment, targeted business premises and communities in Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng to respond to community concerns and transgressions of immigration and labour laws.
“This is a demonstration that government is not turning a blind eye to illegal immigration and we are intensifying our efforts to bring it under control,” Kubayi said.
Advanced technology and anti-corruption measures
The Border Management Authority has deployed advanced technologies, including drones and body-worn cameras, and established additional checkpoints along key transport routes leading to major border crossings.
On 10 June, the BMA and its stakeholders held an anti-corruption awareness campaign at Oshoek port of entry, the RSA-eSwatini border, to proactively address corruption within the ports.
Static checkpoints have been instituted at key corridors leading to critical ports, such as Beitbridge, to intercept anyone attempting to enter South Africa illegally.
“Currently, there is heightened vigilance across all ports of entry in all three modalities of land, air and sea. This was demonstrated by the recent interception of nine Bangladeshi nationals at OR Tambo International Airport who attempted to enter South Africa with fraudulent visas,” Kubayi said.
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Five-point strategy
The arrests form part of President Ramaphosa’s five-point strategy to manage irregular migration, announced in his nationwide address on 7 June, which includes strengthening border security, upholding the constitutional principle of the rule of law, stamping out corruption in the immigration system, cracking down on violence and lawlessness, and refining the legislative framework.
The plan also includes collaboration with fellow African nations to forge a broader response to migration challenges across the region and continent.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee includes various departments such as Home Affairs, Small Business Development, Defence, International Relations and Cooperation, Employment and Labour, Basic Education, Higher Education and Training, and the South African Police Service.
The Departments of Transport, Trade, Industry and Competition, and Social Development have since been requested to join the committee.
Through intelligence-led operations, roadblocks, compliance inspections and multi-disciplinary actions involving various government departments, government continues to identify, arrest and process those who are in the country unlawfully.
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