More than 40,000 illegal foreign nationals have been arrested in South Africa since the start of 2026, with over 7,400 arrests made in the past month alone, according to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration.
Speaking during a media briefing on Sunday, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal immigration through strengthened border security, anti-corruption measures and coordinated law enforcement operations.
Recent interventions include the interception of nine Bangladeshi nationals at OR Tambo International Airport for allegedly using fraudulent visas and the seizure of a large consignment of a Mandrax precursor chemical at the Beitbridge border post.
Government has also conducted compliance operations in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, resulting in arrests of undocumented migrants and employers accused of violating immigration laws.
Kubayi said the arrests demonstrate government’s commitment to tackling illegal immigration and enforcing the rule of law.
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