TMPD recently arrested 40 foreign nationals, allegedly undocumented, during a series of by-law operations in the city’s central and western areas.

The operation was done in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Electricity Department, Water and Sanitation, Environmental Health Services (EHS), the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and Municipal Health Services (MHS), and a joint by-law enforcement operation was conducted on July 7 in Pretoria central and Pretoria West.

During the Pretoria West operation, two businesses along Luttig Street were inspected and found non-compliant with municipal by-laws.

Several notices were issued for various purported contraventions, including illegal structures, non-compliance with business regulations, and violations of waste management and food safety regulations.

Furthermore, TMPD members arrested two foreign nationals for allegedly contravening the Immigration Act.

Tshwane’s Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, claimed that during the inspection of the property on July 6, officials found an illegal car wash, a spaza shop trading without a valid licence, an unregistered vehicle repair business, and an unregistered school.

Moya claims that the officials also discovered an illegal water connection, disconnected the electricity, and shut down all illegal businesses operating on the premises.

The following day, July 7, officials returned to the same premises and apprehended two foreign nationals; allegedly undocumented.

“On Tuesday, we returned to a Pretoria West property where we had previously identified an unregistered school and an unregistered spaza shop,” Moya claimed.

“In partnership with Home Affairs, the owner of the spaza shop was arrested for employing illegal immigrants.

“In addition, we removed an illegal water connection,” she purported.

A further six illegal immigrants working at an unregistered paper recycling business were also arrested. Officials disconnected water and electricity, and the TMPD impounded a truck and confiscated all the paper found inside the property.

In Pretoria Central, along Madiba Street, 40 allegedly undocumented foreign nationals were arrested and detained under suspicion they were contravening the Immigration Act, 2002.

Two businesses were inspected, and notices of non-compliance were issued.

The operation took place at the multi-tenanted commercial hub, Navy House, in Pretoria Central.

MMC for Corporate and Shared Services and Bad Buildings Mayoral Sub-Committee Chairperson, Flora Monama, said she hoped the officials’ efforts would serve as a stern warning of the metro’s zero-tolerance stance toward lawlessness.

“We then took the operation to Navy House, where teams moved floor-by-floor and door-to-door to verify residency status, detain undocumented individuals, and ensure all local businesses are fully compliant and correctly licensed. Non-compliance with the law will not be tolerated. If you do not follow the law, you will be dealt with accordingly,

“Hundreds of individuals were found inside the building,” she stated going on to claim that, “..many of whom are undocumented. We took in over 25 individuals who are in the country illegally.

“Let this serve as a warning.”

Illegal water connections were disconnected, while the DHA conducted immigration status verification on 25 individuals.

All arrested suspects were detained and processed in local police stations.

Watch here: https://x.com/nasiphim/status/2074481137343181299/video/1.

This afternoon, we joined the City’s Bad Buildings Committee for a by-law enforcement operation on Luttig Street, in Pretoria West. We arrested 6 illegal immigrants working at an unregistered paper recycling business.

We disconnected water and electricity. In addition, TMPD… pic.twitter.com/uDKa0zw6fb

— Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) July 7, 2026

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