Over 600 Undocumented Foreign Nationals Arrested in Major Mayfair Immigration Raid

Authorities detain more than 600 undocumented foreign nationals during a coordinated raid in Mayfair.  

image: Facebook

by Kelebogile Matlou

In a joint operation by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the Department of Home Affairs in Mayfair, Johannesburg, over 600 undocumented foreign nationals were detained, including 217 women and 413 males.

The multi-agency raid, led by JMPD, was intelligence-driven and aimed at enforcing immigration laws as part of a broader crime prevention strategy. According to Mgcini Tshwaku, MMC for Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg, all arrested individuals are currently being processed by Home Affairs in accordance with applicable legislation.

Tshwaku applauded the authorities’ professionalism and collaboration, calling the operation as “a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies work together decisively.”

He added that similar operations are planned in other regions of the city, aimed at alleged human-trafficking syndicates and criminal networks that facilitate illegal immigration. This raid comes amid rising concerns about overcrowding and hijacked buildings in Mayfair, where local media recently reported many residences harboring large numbers of unauthorized inhabitants.

According to city officials, the operation is part of a long-term attempt to restore safety and order in vulnerable communities.