80 Undocumented Migrants Detained at Sunninghill Construction Site in Joburg Blitz

• Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya and Joburg Mayor Dada Morero led a joint multidisciplinary blitz at a Sunninghill construction site on 28 August 2026
• The operation flagged widespread non-compliance with labour laws, including the UIF Act, National Minimum Wage Act, COIDA and the OHS Act
• At least 80 undocumented migrants and their employers were detained for breaching South Africa's Immigration Act

GAUTENG — A joint law enforcement blitz at a construction site in Sunninghill, north of Johannesburg, on Friday, 28 August 2026, resulted in the detention of at least 80 undocumented foreign nationals along with employers accused of hiring them illegally.

The operation was led by Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya alongside Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero and MMC for Development Planning Eunice Mgcina. Multiple agencies participated, including the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the Johannesburg Metro Police.

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The Department of Employment and Labour announced the operation on Facebook, confirming it formed part of a series of Multidisciplinary High Impact Blitz Inspections targeting the construction sector within the City of Joburg Metro Municipality.

Labour law violations uncovered

Inspectors flagged serious breaches across several pieces of legislation, including the Unemployment Insurance Fund Act, the National Minimum Wage Act, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA), and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Under Section 38 of the Immigration Act No. 13 of 2002, employers are prohibited from hiring foreign nationals who do not hold valid work authorisation. Violations carry criminal consequences for employers, including fines or imprisonment under Section 49(3) of the same Act. The Department of Labour has previously warned that employing undocumented workers is a punishable offence, and legal experts note it also exposes workers to exploitation through sub-minimum wages and unsafe conditions.

South Africans react to the raid

The announcement drew considerable engagement on the Facebook page, with users divided between praise and scepticism.

@Siphezile Bangiso wrote:

"Good job Department 👏"

@Bgc Bgc commented:

"Doing good work, fine the Employers heavily."

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@Bukhosi Addie raised a broader challenge:

"If you could tackle service delivery like that, you could be far."

@Nkosinathi Maseko questioned the labour implications:

"So which legal ones will work that kind of job??"

@Thulani Vee Malinga offered a more cynical take:

"It's payday Friday; that's why it's a setup."

The Sunninghill blitz forms part of a broader government push to enforce immigration and labour compliance across Johannesburg's construction sector, which has faced scrutiny over the use of undocumented workers on major development projects.

See the Facebook post here.

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Source: Briefly News