POLOKWANE – Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers and Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba on Friday led a major raid in Ext 44 targeting suspected illegal foreign nationals and drug dealers.

The operation, dubbed Operation Shanela, started at 2:30 AM in Ext 44 and Westenburg following complaints from community members along Matlala Road. By 9:00 AM, authorities had conducted close to 500 searches and made 339 arrests, Ramathuba said.

Undocumented foreign nationals taken directly to Musina

Those arrested included undocumented foreign nationals who were removed from trucks and from two Great North buses commuting between the extensions, Mall of the North, and Savanna. They were taken directly to the Musina Repatriation Centre for deportation and will not face charges.

Among those arrested was what police described as a “hardcore suspect” wanted for murder and robberies in Polokwane. He was allegedly residing in a backyard room rented by a South African and was linked to the March and March Movement.

Foreign-owned shops inspected

Officials also inspected foreign-owned shops, mostly run by Somali and Bangladeshi nationals who rent garages in the area. Many were found closed, allegedly due to fear of police. Authorities accused some of flouting consumer standards by sleeping and cooking inside the shops.

A South African woman who owns a spaza shop was found open and compliant, however she was also renting rooms to undocumented foreign nationals. Illicit cigarettes were confiscated from her shop. She said she was unaware they were illegal. Ramathuba used the incident as a “teaching moment”, saying the cigarettes harm the economy. The owner was fined.

Another Zimbabwean woman carrying a passport was arrested after she claimed to own a foreign-run spaza shop she said she had sold, but could not produce proof of sale or ownership. The shop is also alleged to sell alcohol. Other Somali-owned shops were either closed or had other people claiming ownership, leading to arrests for fronting.

Illegal electricity connections uncovered

The raid also uncovered numerous illegal electricity connections from RDP houses into rental units. Ramathuba warned homeowners and employers.

“We build an RDP as government and you harbour foreign nationals. Tell them that when I come back and they are still continuing, tell them it will not be nice,” she said.

“The people who are harbouring criminals in our country is South Africans,” she told media. She said those found contravening the law would be charged with harbouring undocumented foreigners and handed over to police.

Operation a direct response to community concerns

Ramathuba said the operation was a direct response to community marches and pickets.

“Your marches and pickets, we have listened to them and are now taking charge dealing with those concerns. But don’t take the law into your own hands because it defeats the purpose,” she said. “This activity is not a once-off.”

Scheepers said police were happy with the results but this was only the beginning.

“All other departments are working with us and we will expand to all other districts. We will leave no stone unturned. Nobody is allowed to commit crime in this province. We are very serious about the safety and economic growth of this province.”

Police close to Review Online said dockets at Westenburg Station relating to break-ins have dropped since the operations started.