Twenty-four undocumented persons were arrested in Reitz, in the Free State, on Thursday.
Their arrest follows a joint crime prevention operation conducted in the early hours of this morning, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.
The arrested persons comprise five females and 15 males from Malawi, as well as four males from Lesotho.
The crime prevention operation targeted contact and property-related crimes which were identified as priority concerns during the previous quarter within the Reitz policing precinct.
The police operation targeted crimes such as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, murder, residential and business burglaries, damage to essential infrastructure, theft of copper cables and stock theft.
“As part of proactive measures to address these challenges and prevent further criminal activities, members of the Reitz police, Nketoana Local Municipality and the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Unit conducted a joint operation, which yielded positive results,” the police said in a statement.
“The South African Police Service remains committed to working together with relevant stakeholders to prevent and combat crime. Through collaborative efforts, we can create safer communities and save lives,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za
