Home Affairs Warns Undocumented Immigrants: Self-Deport or Face Arrest and Ban

Operation New Broom intensifies nationwide as authorities ramp up arrests and deportations

The Department of Home Affairs has issued a stark warning to undocumented immigrants living in South Africa: leave voluntarily or risk arrest and a long-term re-entry ban.

In a no-nonsense briefing following the latest immigration enforcement raids, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber made it clear that Operation New Broom, launched in May 2025, is entering a more aggressive phase.

“Our message to people who are in our country illegally is clear: voluntarily self-deport now, before Home Affairs deports you and bans you from entering South Africa altogether,” Schreiber warned on Friday.

What is Operation New Broom?

First launched in District 6, Cape Town, Operation New Broom is a targeted Home Affairs crackdown focused on urban hotspots and inner-city areas where undocumented foreign nationals are suspected to be residing or working without permits.

Arrests have already been made in Cape Town, Pretoria, Roodepoort, and Gqeberha, with the department now increasing the frequency of these enforcement actions.

In its most recent raid, 95 undocumented immigrants were arrested in Nelson Mandela Bay. The team discovered dozens living in a run-down warehouse in Gqeberha’s CBD, with one Chinese-owned business also found to be in violation of multiple immigration laws. Deportation orders are already being processed through the courts.

Biometric Tech Tightens the Net

The success of Operation New Broom is also credited to the Department’s ongoing digital transformation, including the use of biometric verification. This eliminates the use of fraudulent identity documents and helps strengthen the state’s legal case during prosecution and deportation.

“The benefits of our digital systems are becoming clear,” said Schreiber. “We’re now more efficient in identifying and removing those who flout our immigration laws.”

Tip-offs and Community Involvement Fuel Raids

On Monday, 7 July, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Njabulo Nzuza led a Gauteng-based raid in Roodepoort after a tip-off from a concerned resident. The factory raid uncovered 21 illegal foreign nationals from Malawi, China, and Zimbabwe, some of whom were living and working in the factory itself.

“This location was extremely discreet. The workers and managers both slept and worked there,” Nzuza explained. “It would have been hard to detect without community assistance.”

The Department is now actively encouraging residents across the country to report suspected illegal activity in their neighbourhoods, promising swift action in return.

A Political and Legal Balancing Act

While the operation has gained public support from some corners, especially among citizens calling for tighter immigration control, it has also sparked conversations around human rights, xenophobia, and socioeconomic inequality.

Legal experts and civil rights groups warn that enforcement actions must be accompanied by strict adherence to due process, especially given South Africa’s history of xenophobic violence and overcrowded detention centres.

But Schreiber insists Operation New Broom is lawful and proportionate.

“We are guided by the rule of law,” he said. “This is about restoring order, not chaos.”

What Undocumented Immigrants Need to Know

• Self-deportation is encouraged for those residing illegally.

• Those found and arrested risk being banned from re-entering South Africa.

• Businesses employing undocumented workers will face legal consequences.

• Biometric systems are being used to prevent identity fraud.

• Deportation orders are being processed via the court system, not extrajudicially.

What’s Next for Operation New Broom?

According to Home Affairs, more raids are planned in the coming weeks, including in Joburg’s city centre and industrial zones around Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. The Department will continue coordinating with the Border Management Authority, SAPO, and community watch groups to expand its reach.

Whether this approach leads to greater immigration law compliance or sparks new tensions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the broom is sweeping, and it’s not stopping soon.

To report suspicious immigration activity, contact the Department of Home Affairs Anti-Corruption Hotline at 0800 60 11 90.

{Source: The Citizen}

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