MOOI RIVER, KWAZULU-NATAL — A major multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation at Mooi River Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has led to the arrest of scores of suspected undocumented immigrants, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza has confirmed. The targeted raid specifically focused on foreign nationals working illegally within the local trucking and transport sector.
A Coordinated Multi-Agency Effort
The sweeping operation was the result of a coordinated effort involving the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Transport Department, and the Department of Labour.
According to Deputy Minister Nzuza, four distinct teams were deployed during the raid, led by himself, another deputy minister, and senior SAPS officials. While the teams are still coordinating the final tally of arrests and the nationalities of the suspects, Nzuza confirmed that a “substantial number” of individuals were taken into custody.
Targeting the Trucking Industry and Employers
The primary focus of the operation was the widespread issue of undocumented foreign nationals operating within the trucking industry. Nzuza outlined a common modus operandi used by the suspects: individuals enter the country on visitor visas, begin driving locally and making cross-border movements, and subsequently overstay their permits because they are guaranteed employment.
To combat this, authorities are employing a strategy designed to hold employers accountable.
“For you to be able to find the employer, you must firstly find the illegal person that they have employed,” Nzuza explained. “We are on the road where they operate. We then catch illegal people who are driving your truck. We are then going to come to your depot, and as we arrest that person, we also impound the truck.”
When employers arrive to retrieve their impounded vehicles, law enforcement will then execute legal action against them for employing undocumented individuals.
Addressing Public Concerns and Proactive Policing
The crackdown in Mooi River follows previous public shutdowns and protests in the area, where residents complained about undocumented foreign nationals illegally driving trucks.
When questioned on whether these government efforts are merely reactive to public outcry, Deputy Minister Nzuza pushed back, insisting the operations are part of a sustained, proactive strategy. He noted that while immigration inspections have been ongoing for some time, the current approach has been heightened and refined under presidential instructions.
The key difference in the current strategy is the establishment of permanent, consistent multi-disciplinary teams. Previously, departments such as Home Affairs, labor, traffic, and police operated in silos. Now, they are working jointly on the ground in a highly coordinated manner to maintain a continuous presence.
Human Trafficking Elements and Deportations
During the raids, authorities also uncovered elements of human trafficking. Nzuza revealed that some trucks were caught taking detours while carrying five or six passengers. Upon interrogation, some individuals claimed they were simply being taken home.
Those who fit the criteria are being directed to repatriation centers. However, Nzuza made a clear distinction between these individuals and the primary targets of the raid. The undocumented drivers arrested during the main operation are not linked to the recent repatriation program and will face standard deportation processes. Meanwhile, the drivers found facilitating the human trafficking of passengers on these detours will face criminal charges.
As the multi-agency teams continue to process the detainees and finalize the arrest numbers, the government has sent a clear message: the era of exploiting undocumented immigrant labor in the transport sector is coming to an end.