380 arrested in SA for immigration violations

AT least 380 Zimbabweans and Malawians were recently arrested in South Africa for allegedly violating the immigration laws.

They failed to produce documentation authorising their stay in South Africa when police raided a 21-storey building they were occupying at Hillbrow, Johannesburg.

South Africa Police Services (SAPS) established that the 21-storey building in question had since been grabbed from the rightful owner by some three criminals.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said that three suspects — two women and a man — were arrested for taking over the building.

Brig Peters said the arrested Malawians and Zimbabweans were taken for processing and verification of their stay in South Africa.

“A total of 380 (353 males and 27 females) undocumented nationals from Malawi and Zimbabwe, including those caught during roadblocks and in other operations, were taken in for processing and verification of their stay in the country,” he said.

“To this end, six Malawian nationals — four juveniles and two pregnant women — were released pending their appearance before immigration authorities to prepare for their direct deportation.

“Meanwhile, police were also able to trace 124 suspects on whom warrants of arrests were executed for a range of crimes.”

Brig Peters said roadblocks were mounted at strategic points in all the five districts in the province and saw a few unroadworthy cars being impounded and fines imposed for contravention of road traffic regulations.

At least 2 865 Zimbabweans were arrested in South Africa for committing various criminal offences between 2016 and this year, a situation that left Zimbabwe with the highest number of arrested nationals in the neighbouring country.