Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale, has advised community members against harbouring illegal foreign nationals.
Speaking at the Inter-Ministerial Crime Prevention Community Engagement held at the Mmabatho Civic Centre in Mahikeng, North West, on Tuesday, the Deputy Minister reminded the community that it is illegal to shelter undocumented foreign nationals.
He emphasised that if illegal immigrants commit crimes, it becomes difficult to trace, apprehend, and bring them to justice.
“Anyone accommodating undocumented foreign nationals must be arrested; if you are found to be renting back rooms and taking rent from them, you must be arrested. [This includes] people who rent their spaza shops to illegal, undocumented foreign nationals in possession of fraudulent documents,” said the Deputy Minister, adding that business owners who hire undocumented foreign nationals must be arrested.
Mathale instructed the police to take a firm stance against illegal shebeens that sell illicit alcohol, emphasising that they should not be sympathetic to those involved in activities that harm others.
“We must not negotiate with people who break the law.”
Tuesday’s high-level engagement brought leadership, stakeholders, and the community together with a shared commitment to addressing challenges through collaboration, dialogue, and decisive action.
The crime prevention ministerial imbizo, which focused on strengthening unity, coordination and service delivery, stands as a symbol of progress, accountability, and purposeful leadership.
According to the Police Ministry, it set a strong foundation for coordinated action.
The imbizo aimed at creating a platform for effective interaction between police, provincial leadership, and communities to address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and other crimes prevalent in the area. This is an effort to find lasting solutions and interventions to ensure safety and security.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Divisional Commissioner for Visible Policing and Operations, Lieutenant General Maropeng Johanna Mamothethi, said crime is a shared challenge.
“We need the community to assist in the fight against crime; the police will integrate law enforcement with social crime prevention,” Mamothethi said. – SAnews.gov.za
