Tshwane police have illegal immigrants in crosshairs
More than 42% of the arrested suspects during the weekend police operation were undocumented immigrants.
The police in the Tshwane central corridor are on a mission to curb the scourge of illegal immigration.
The corridor comprises Lyttelton, Pretoria North and most police stations in the eastern part of Pretoria.
The police revealed this after a successful operation nabbed 106 suspects from Friday to Sunday of which more than 42% were undocumented immigrants.
“In order to curb the scourge of illegal immigration, the police arrested 47 undocumented migrants in Garsfontein, Silverton and Sunnyside collectively,” police spokesperson Captain Daniel Mavimbela said.
He said almost the same number of illegal migrants was arrested in September.
“The alleged undocumented migrants are expected to be deported after making an appearance in court soon.”
He said suspected thieves were also caught for reportedly stealing, among others, copper cables and motor vehicles in areas including Lyttelton, Brooklyn and Pretoria North.
Other suspects were caught for offences ranging from assault under the Domestic Violence Act, possession of drugs, malicious damage to property and fraud, among others.
Police said all arrested suspects were expected to appear in the Pretoria magistrate’s courts soon.
Sunnyside CPF secretary Samuel Boshego said they welcomed the police operation to fight lawlessness in various parts of the Capital City.
“We support the good work that the police are doing,” Boshego said.
“It [curbing the scourge of illegal immigration] is necessary in order to create or maintain a good relationship between locals and some foreign nationals.
“This should at any point be not viewed as the fight against foreign nationals but it is about fighting against lawlessness in the country and encouraging foreign nationals to be in South Africa legally.”
“All innocent foreign nationals are welcome in the country but undocumented immigrants are not.”
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