Nearly 60,000 Undocumented Foreigners Arrested in SA Since January, Government Reveals
- South African authorities arrested 59,947 undocumented foreigners between January and July 2026, with 16,208 arrests recorded in July alone
- Officials briefed media at a NATJOINTS session on 7 August, revealing that over 77,000 foreign nationals had already been repatriated
- More than 6,300 labour inspectors are conducting nationwide workplace inspections as government widens its enforcement net
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SOUTH AFRICA — South African authorities have arrested close to 60,000 undocumented foreign nationals in the first seven months of 2026, as government agencies intensify nationwide immigration enforcement operations.
The figures were disclosed at a National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) media briefing held on Friday, 7 August. Officials confirmed that 59,947 undocumented foreigners were arrested between January and July, with 16,208 of those arrests occurring in July alone.
Repatriations and Musina centre wind-down
Beyond arrests, officials reported that 77,184 undocumented foreigners had been repatriated to their home countries by 3 August. A temporary repatriation centre set up in Musina is now being demobilised following the processing of thousands of individuals. Roughly 500 people reportedly remained at the facility and were expected to be repatriated within days.
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Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili addressed reporters at the briefing, asserting that conditions across the country were under control despite the tensions that accompanied recent protests.
"The country remains stable. Law and order will prevail," Mosikili said.
He also emphasised that enforcement would not slow down, adding: "These operations will continue without interruption. Our agencies remain committed to enforcing the Immigration Act and all other legislation without fear or favour."
Workplace inspections widen the net
Alongside immigration arrests, government departments have stepped up inspections at businesses across South Africa. More than 6,300 labour inspectors are currently deployed at workplaces nationwide to identify undocumented employees, illegal employment practices, and broader labour law violations. Inspections at spaza shops are also ongoing as part of efforts to ensure regulatory compliance.
NATJOINTS stated that the operations form part of a wider government strategy to enforce immigration legislation while simultaneously targeting organised criminal networks.
The briefing follows nationwide anti-illegal immigration protests held in late June and early July 2026, during which demonstrators called for stricter government action against undocumented foreign nationals and businesses employing them without proper documentation. Government has indicated that enforcement operations will remain a priority in the months ahead.
4 undocumented foreigners arrested in Mpumalanga
Briefly News reported that the Abahambe movement’s campaign for stricter immigration laws led to the arrest of 14 undocumented immigrants in Emalahleni on 4 June 2026. Authorities made the arrests while conducting compliance checks during a mass anti-illegal immigration demonstration attended by approximately 1,500 people.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said the march unfolded peacefully, with no major incidents. He said officials from the Department of Home Affairs processed foreign nationals encountered during the operation and discovered that 14 lacked valid documentation.
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Source: Briefly News
