In a significant operation in KwaZulu-Natal, police arrested 268 undocumented foreign nationals during a raid on two textile warehouses in Newcastle. The raid, which took place in the early hours of Saturday morning, followed intelligence gathered regarding illegal immigrants working at the two warehouses on Gutenberg Street, which specialize in fabric and clothing production. The operation was launched late on Friday and extended into the early hours of Saturday.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the provincial police spokesperson, confirmed that the raid led to the arrest of 268 foreign nationals, whose ages range from 18 to 51 years. After processing by immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs, the arrested individuals will be brought before the Newcastle Magistrates Court. The police also charged the owners of the warehouses, two foreign nationals of Asian origin, aged 40 and 46, for contravening Section 38 of the Immigration Act by employing illegal foreigners. The owners were granted R1,000 bail each after their physical addresses and legal status in South Africa were verified.
In a related development, authorities in Johannesburg conducted separate operations targeting counterfeit goods. The Gauteng police seized goods estimated to be worth R8.6 million in two raids carried out in Langlaagte and Honeydew. The first operation on Friday in Langlaagte led to the confiscation of illicit perfumes valued at R5.3 million. The second operation, conducted in Honeydew, saw police seize counterfeit clothing, shoes, and cellphone accessories with a combined value of over R3.3 million. These raids are part of an ongoing effort by the SAPS Gauteng counterfeit unit, in collaboration with brand protectors and local community policing forums, to curb the circulation of illegal goods in the region.
