Nearly 60,000 undocumented migrants arrested this year: Natjoints

South African law enforcement agencies have arrested nearly 60,000 undocumentedforeignerssince the beginning of the year as the government steps up operations targeting illegal immigration and other crimes. Speaking at a National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) media briefing on Friday, officials said the 59,947 undocumented foreigners had been arrested between January and the end of July duringOperation Shanelaand other multidisciplinary operations. Of those, 16,208 were arrested in July alone.

Natjoints said the operations were part of the government’s broader efforts to enforce immigration laws while tackling organised crime, illegal firearms, drugs and wanted suspects. “These operations will continue without interruption,” Natjoints chair Lt-Gen Tebello Mosikili said. “Our law enforcement agencies remain committed to enforcing the Immigration Act and all other applicable legislation fairly, professionally and without fear or favour.” The briefing comes just more than a month after nationwide demonstrations on June 30, many of which were linked to calls for tougher action against illegal immigration.

Natjoints said the country remained stable after those protests and that anti-illegal immigration demonstrations had declined significantly. “The country remains stable. Law and order continue to prevail,” Mosikili said.

[paywall]

The government also provided an update on deportations, saying 77,184 undocumented foreigners had been repatriated to their home countries by August 3. Between April 1 and July 31, 18,816 people were formally deported, while 3,016 undocumented foreigners were at the Lindela Repatriation Centre awaiting deportation. Officials said the temporary repatriation centre in Musina is now being demobilised after thousands of undocumented migrants were processed. Just more than 500 people are still at the facility and are expected to be repatriated in the coming days.

[/paywall]