By Mapaballo Borotho
- Nearly 60,000 undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested across South Africa since the beginning of 2026, according to NATJOINTS.
- Authorities say more than 77,000 undocumented migrants have also been repatriated, with thousands more awaiting deportation at the Lindela Repatriation Centre.
- Government has urged communities not to take the law into their own hands, stressing that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of the State.
Almost 60,000 undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested across South Africa since the beginning of 2026, as the government intensifies its immigration crackdown.
This was confirmed by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) on Friday, 07 August 2026.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said more than 16,000 of those arrests were made during Operation Shanela and other multidisciplinary operations in July alone.
Authorities also revealed that more than 77,000 undocumented foreign nationals had been repatriated to their countries by 3 August 2026.
A further 18,816 people were formally deported between April and July, while more than 3,000 remain at the Lindela Repatriation Centre awaiting deportation.
Mosikili assured the public that the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority and other government departments will continue conducting immigration, workplace and business compliance operations.
The security structure has, however, warned communities against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of the State.
NATJOINTS said all operations must be conducted lawfully, humanely and in line with the Constitution and South Africa’s immigration laws.
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