Zimbabwean Woman Arrested for Selling Contraceptives on Pretoria CBD Street, SA Wants Supplier Found

• A Zimbabwean informal trader was found selling prescription pills at her stall in Pretoria on 31 August 2026
• The discovery was made during an inner-city enforcement blitz led by the City of Tshwane's By-Law Enforcement team
• South Africans weighed in on the discovery, with some questioning who the woman worked for and how she got the pills

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG - An informal trader from Zimbabwe was arrested in Pretoria after officials discovered that she was selling prescription medication on the pavement without authorisation.

The Zimbabwean woman was arrested on 31 August 2026 during an intensive inner-city enforcement blitz led by the City of Tshwane's By-Law Enforcement team. In addition to the trading violation, the woman was found to be in breach of South Africa's Immigration Act, as she allegedly lacked valid documentation to remain in the country legally. She was detained at the scene.

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Video captures moment Zimbabwean woman was arrested

In the clip of the incident, which was shared by Tshwane Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, law enforcement members could be seen approaching the woman at her stall along a busy street lined with informal traders.

They questioned her about what she was selling, which turned out to be oral birth control pills priced at R25 each. The woman also confirmed that she was from Zimbabwe during the questioning.

While she appeared cool and calm, the woman also claimed that the products were not hers, seeming to allege that she was selling them on behalf of her boss.

South Africans react to woman's arrest

Social media users weighed in on the woman's arrest, sharing varied reactions about it.

@Bernie Toughs suggested:

"Stolen from the clinic!"

@TatakaLhoza KaInako-noHlahla Mathontsi urged:

"Please call boss. The boss must not escape, guys. Please"

@Sydney Molokele observed:

"She's so relaxed. She knows very well that this is nothing"

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@Given Gift Vilakazi added:

"They should have let her call the boss and let him come and then take them both. Because you might find that her boss is one of us, just using a Zimbabwean. Eish"

@Tshepo Mrlusha Sherman joked:

"Malema won't be happy about this"

Bob Man claimed:

"She's not scared. Of course, so she knows someone in police uniform will make her case disappear."

Other stories about raids in Pretoria

• The City of Tshwane disconnected electricity and shut down multiple illegal businesses operating from a property on Luttig Street.
• The Tshwane Mayor found a mortuary was operating next to a spaza shop in Ekangala.
• The City of Tshwane shut down unlicensed hair salons in the Pretoria Central Business District.

Source: Briefly News