Johannesburg – More than a dozen undocumented immigrants were arrested during a City of Johannesburg-led operation at the Ginger Informal Settlement in Sandton early this morning.
The raid, supported by Home Affairs, aimed to enforce by-laws and dismantle illegal settlements in the northern suburbs.
Mayor Dada Morero said the individuals are in custody and will be handed over to Home Affairs for possible deportation.
He confirmed that drug-related activity, including the sale of nyaope, was uncovered during the operation.
Undocumented migrants are being arrested during a raid at the Ginger Park informal settlement in Sandton. Joburg mayor @DadaMorero is leading a crime prevention operation here and taking down illegal structures. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/hCBwpqmigY
— Nabeelah Shaikh (@Nabeelah_Shaikh) July 25, 2025
“Well we have arrested a few undocumented. They are already in the police vans, and they will be taken into custody and then hopefully Home Affairs will act on them and take them back to their countries of origin and we are also identifying if there are any other criminal activities that are happening here. We have already established that they sell nyaope and the police are acting on that. So, we will continue to act and look at illegality and criminal activity but the central objective is to get rid of these informal settlement,” SABC News quoted Morero as saying.
The South African Police Service has arrested over 15 undocumented foreign nationals living in this illegal informal settlement. #ReclaimJoburg #FixingJoburg pic.twitter.com/RLrSSzFzAC
— Executive Mayor of the City Of Joburg (@DadaMorero) July 25, 2025
Morero vowed to continue such raids to combat lawlessness and crime, stating that court orders are in place to ensure legal compliance.
Local residents welcomed the operation and expressed hope that similar actions would happen more frequently.
Morero says all undocumented migrants need to be deported and sent back to their countries.
“As a country, we have a responsibility to secure our borders.” At least 15 of them have been arrested during the raid at the Ginger Park informal settlement in Sandton. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/H7flJHQbWQ— Nabeelah Shaikh (@Nabeelah_Shaikh) July 25, 2025
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
