Police in the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape have arrested 139 suspects for a range of crimes, including drug dealing, robbery with aggravating circumstances and immigration offences.
The operations, which were conducted between 1 and 7 June, led to the arrest of 35 undocumented foreign nationals, as well as a 45-year-old documented Chinese business owner.
The business owner was taken into custody during Operation Identity, which was carried out in St Francis Bay, Humansdorp and Hankey.
The Chinese national was arrested under Section 49(3), read in conjunction with Section 38 of the Immigration Act No. 13 of 2002, for employing foreign nationals without valid permits. Fines totalling R55 500 were issued.
The operations come as government has recently adopted the Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management, which is aimed at, among others, strengthening border security, enforcing immigration laws and tackling corruption.
In an address to the nation on Sunday, 7 June, President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined measures that showed unequivocally that government is upping the ante on weeding out illegal immigration and its concomitant effects, including organised crime.
"Illegal migration routes increasingly overlap with organised crime. Criminal syndicates involved in trafficking, extortion, illegal mining, drugs and money laundering often use undocumented migration for recruitment and concealment of goods," the President said.
Government is stepping up pressure on businesses that insist on hiring undocumented immigrants, paying them wages that are well below the minimum wage and making them work longer hours without due compensation.
"Employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers and exploit their vulnerability are breaking the law. They undermine labour standards. They undermine fair competition, and they undermine opportunities for South Africans," the President said.
Clamping down on this practice has led to the Department of Employment and Labour launching the phased recruitment of 10 000 inspectors for this financial year, in order to rebuild labour enforcement capacity.
President Ramaphosa said penalties for errant employers will be increased, including imprisonment, for the violation of the Immigration Act.
"We cannot have a situation where employers who, after being charged and found guilty of violating our laws, merely pay a fine and continue employing undocumented foreign nationals, whom they exploit."
Breaking the back of the drug trade
The Crime Intelligence-led operations held in the Sarah Baartman District also resulted in the arrest of 26 suspects, 11 of whom were arrested for dealing in or possession of drugs.
Items recovered and illicit drugs seized during these operations include mandrax, tik, cocaine, magic mushrooms, and rock kat, with a combined estimated street value of more than R311 885.
Successfully executed tracing operations led to the arrest of 43 suspects for various crimes. Tactically focused combat operations secured a further 35 arrests.
The suspects are due to appear before various Magistrate’s Courts soon.
Brigadier Abduraghmaan Humphries, the Acting District Commissioner of the Sarah Baartman District, praised the joint efforts of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the multidisciplinary teams involved in the various operations.
“South Africa is a constitutional country governed by laws that must be respected by both citizens and foreign nationals.
“The root cause of illegal migration is often business owners exploiting undocumented workers for cheap labour, dodging minimum wages and bypassing local labour regulations,” said Humphries.
“Locals must report illegal employment through the proper channels rather than engaging in intimidation, violence or unlawful protests." – SAnews.gov.za
