Saps arrests more than 200 foreigners without permits

Alexandra residents have applauded the South African Police Service (Saps) for its intervention in the form of Operation Restore at Pan Africa Mall on Friday.

Saps arrested more than 200 illegal immigrants. The operation, which started in Diepkloof in Soweto, saw at least 116 alleged foreigners in the area arrested.

Another 49 were arrested in Hillbrow and 44 in Alexandra following the Dudula Movement’s shutdown of stores they claimed were owned by foreign nationals. A resident, Mmabatho Motsopi, said although the police did not want to confirm it, the operation, which was centred around the Johannesburg district, was a response to the shutdown the Dudula Movement implemented on Monday.

“We have been waiting for our government to respond to our cry and finally they have heard us.

“No bloodshed, no deaths, no xenophobic acts, but just adhering to the laws of our country,” she said.

According to Saps, the operation aimed to restore faith and trust in the police, while verifying the citizenship status of those arrested as well as checking for unlicensed firearms and labour law compliance in the local shops.

“We just need to feed our kids and make a living that’s all.

“I’m very heartbroken by what is happening now,” Gana said.

Asylum seeker Abdirisaq Gure said they also welcomed the police operation but more should be done to ensure that documented foreign nationals were not harassed by community members and the police for bribes.

“They must understand that it’s Covid and home affairs is closed and we apply online and they also respond online via e-mail,” Gure said.