Kimberley construction site crackdown: 16 undocumented workers arrested
Sixteen undocumented workers were arrested and several employers fined during a police and immigration raid on Kimberley construction sites.
Image: Supplied / SAPS
A CRACKDOWN on construction sites across Kimberley led to the arrest of 16 undocumented foreign nationals and the issuing of R30,000 in fines to local employers.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said the arrests, carried out on June 26, followed a tip-off about illegal employment practices involving foreign nationals without proper documentation.
Acting on this intelligence, members of the SAPS Vala Umgodi unit, in conjunction with immigration officials from the Department of Home Affairs, launched a co-ordinated operation across several sites in the Frances Baard District.
Tactical teams moved swiftly, targeting Kimberley businesses suspected of sidestepping immigration laws. The men arrested, aged between 21 and 44, are now facing charges related to contravening South Africa’s immigration regulations.
Officials also clamped down on employers who failed to follow legal hiring procedures, issuing hefty fines as part of efforts to curb illegal labour practices in the province.
Authorities confirmed that the suspects will appear in court soon, while Vala Umgodi teams remain active across the Frances Baard and Namakwa districts, continuing their mission to root out illegal mining and related criminal activity.
Sixteen undocumented workers were arrested and several employers fined during a police and immigration raid on Kimberley construction sites.
Image: Supplied / SAPS