VANDERBIJLPARK – Dozens of illegal foreigners in Vanderbijlpark and surrounding areas were arrested during a multi-disciplinary operation held in Bophelong on November 13.

As if that was not enough, several landlords and employees who housed the undocumented persons were also arrested.

The dramatic scenes played out during Operation Shanela 2 on the Golden Highway, where numerous role players, including Sedibeng police officers, Emfuleni Traffic police, Gauteng Traffic, and Home Affairs officials, among others, conducted a random stop-and-search operation.

While the operation was conducted on the provincial road, some law enforcers roamed the streets of Bophelong and Vanderbijlpark on a different wing to enforce the law.

About two unlicensed taverns were closed, and the owners were arrested for operating illegally.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster following the operation, deputy district police commissioner, Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu said, “We chose Vanderbijlpark because of the challenges officers in this precinct experience. We managed to arrest 12 undocumented foreign nationals.”

Nkhwashu confirmed that five people were also arrested for harbouring foreign nationals.

Touching on arrests for operating illegal taverns, Nkhwashu said, “We will be doing more random operations targeting liquor outlets as they are the biggest generators of crime and violence in our communities.”

Firearms were also seized during the operation.

“We are pleading with communities to work with the police by giving information on those culprits with illegal firearms,” said Nkhwashu.