Operation in Bethal sees arrests of 22 undocumented migrants

Operation Shanela, under the command of the Bethal SAPS’ Captain Mandla Maseko, saw the arrests of 22 illegal immigrants.

The illegal immigrants made their first court appearance on August 22 in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on charges of contravening the Immigration Act of South Africa.

The court postponed the matter to…. (Arisja they are appearing today. Will update once Thomas gives the outcome.

Their arrest happened when Department of Home Affairs members, the SAPS, the Bethal and eMzinoni CPFs and Maseko embarked on an operation on the night of August 20.

During the operation, members discovered that some of the suspects’ passports did not have endorsements allowing them to be in the country.

“They were found to be in contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa,” said Sergeant Thomas Mogadime, the spokesperson for the Bethal SAPS.

He said the members acted under Section 41 of the Immigration Act, which allows police officials to verify people’s identity to determine whether they are entitled to be in SA.

When requested by an immigration or police officer to provide any form of identification, people who fail to do so are taken into custody without a warrant until verification of their identity or status. Then, if necessary, they are detained in terms of Section 34.

“Although the Department of Home Affairs is primarily responsible for immigration matters, the SAPS is also afforded certain powers under the Immigration Act, 2002,” said Mogadime.

As stipulated in Section 40 (2) of the Immigration Act, an immigration or police officer may require any establishment to produce a register for all persons provided with lodging and sleeping accommodation.

“The members visited several houses and found undocumented migrants accommodated and arrested them,” said Mogadime.

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