Political parties and the provincial government commended police for the swift arrest of 268 illegal foreign national workers during an intelligence-driven raid of two businesses in the Newcastle Industrial area on Saturday.
Ongoing operations across the country in recent months have led to the arrest and processing of undocumented foreign nationals.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the 268 illegal foreigners were arrested at an industrial site in Newcastle under ‘Operation Vala Umgodi’.
He stated that a court granted the police the authority to carry out searches after information revealed that illegal immigrants were employed at two fabric and clothing manufacturing warehouses.
“The 268 illegal immigrants, whose ages range between 18 and 51 years old, were arrested and, after processing by immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs, will be brought before the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court,” he said.
Netshiunda noted that during the operation, two foreign nationals of Asian origin were found to have contravened Section 38 of the Immigration Act by employing illegal foreigners in their warehouses.
“The two warehouse owners, aged 40 and 46 years old, were released on R1000 bail each after arrangements were made with the court, following positive verification of their physical addresses and their status in the country,” he said.
KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, who was also in Newcastle in collaboration with the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster, police and other law-enforcement agencies for a crime-fighting imbizo in Osizweni, commended police for their swift action.
He said such operations will continue to tackle undocumented workers, which impacts on job creation.
ActionSA Newcastle councillor Zwe Nxumalo said the party welcomed the arrests as it marked a significant step toward addressing illegal immigration and the unlawful employment of undocumented foreigners.
He stated that in March, their investigations had revealed that many businesses in the area employed illegal foreigners over local South Africans.
“We have consistently emphasised that jobs and economic opportunities in Newcastle must benefit local residents, especially amid the region’s high youth unemployment.
“It is imperative that South African citizens, particularly young people, are prioritised for employment opportunities rather than being sidelined by illegal practices,” said Nxumalo.
Nxumalo said Action SA called on all relevant authorities to continue enforcing immigration and labour laws and to hold businesses accountable for employing only those with valid documentation.
“Upholding these laws is vital not only for safeguarding local employment but also for preserving the integrity of our nation’s policies.”
IFP MP and Home Affairs Portfolio Committee Member, Busi Machi, said the party welcomed the arrests, noting that the IFP had long advocated for stricter measures to address illegal immigration.
The IFP called for more widespread raids to be conducted across the country to safeguard the rights and safety of South African citizens. “The party also calls for closer cooperation with the Department of Home Affairs to ensure that detained individuals are processed promptly and efficiently,” said Machi.
National ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri echoed these sentiments and applauded law enforcement authorities in KZN for acting swiftly.
“We commend that action and call on all departments, including the local government, to work closely with law enforcement agencies to stem the tide of illegal foreigners in our country,” she said.
Bhengu-Motsiri called on the Department of Labour and Employment to continue with the measures in place of sending labour inspectors to various workplaces to ensure that there is full compliance with South African laws.
“Both in terms of who gets hired, how compliant they are, and the overall compliance environment in the workplace, we would like them to extend much further and wider in this regard,” she said.