Tommy Mthombeni says police in Gauteng are arresting between 500 and 900 foreign nationals every week as part of ongoing crime prevention and immigration enforcement operations across the province.
Speaking on recent policing statistics, Mthombeni revealed that a total of 36,122 suspects were arrested in Gauteng over the past three months.
Of those arrested, 11,715 were identified as illegal immigrants, accounting for nearly a third of all arrests made during the period.
The Provincial Commissioner said the arrests were the result of sustained operations targeting criminal activity, undocumented foreign nationals and individuals found to be in contravention of South Africa’s immigration laws.
The figures come amid growing national debate around illegal immigration, border security and law enforcement efforts to address undocumented migration.
Authorities have maintained that immigration-related arrests form part of broader crime-fighting initiatives aimed at improving public safety and ensuring compliance with South African law.
