Limpopo farm owner arrested after 15 undocumented workers found during compliance check

Police in Limpopo arrested a 48-year-old farm owner and 15 foreign nationals during a compliance inspection at a farm in Trichardsdal on Monday, the South African Police Service (Saps) said.

What happened at the farm

Saps said officers were conducting compliance duties when they entered a local farm and found a number of employees on duty. Police requested identities and immigration documentation after discovering that some employees were not South African citizens.

According to Saps, twelve employees failed to produce the required documents and were confirmed to be undocumented foreign nationals. They were arrested on the scene, along with the 48-year-old farm owner, who faces charges of harbouring and employing illegal immigrants. The police also arrested three additional illegal immigrants who were found working on the farm.

Who the suspects are

Saps said the group of 15 suspects comprises six women aged between 32 and 43 and nine men aged between 23 and 49. The notice from Saps reiterated that under the Employment Services Act, a foreign national in South Africa cannot be employed without a valid work permit issued under the Immigration Act.

Related operation in the North West

Over the weekend, police in the North West arrested another farm owner in the Vorstershoop policing area during an intelligence-driven operation. During that operation 23 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested, the farm owner was issued an admission-of-guilt fine of R250 000, and checks with the Department of Home Affairs in Ganyesa confirmed some documentation had expired or was invalid.

Police said that during the North West operation they intercepted a white Isuzu truck and a white Toyota Land Cruiser single cab on the R379 gravel road. Several occupants fled into nearby farms, while the driver and the farmer were stopped. Police requested the farmer to contact the individuals, who returned voluntarily for verification purposes. The suspects in that operation are aged between 21 and 49.

Wider context

The arrests come amid nationwide marches against illegal immigrants organised by the March and March movement and 26 other civil groups. The organisations said:

“We want our government to start respecting their bosses, their voters. We want the government to reconsider their priorities. It is interesting that the acting minister of police has dedicated his time to reassure foreign nationals that he will protect them. But not once has he ever assured South Africans that he is going to attend to their concerns,”

“We demand a policy shift. The disdain of our government cannot be allowed anymore. The issue of illegal immigration is not a concern affecting only one sector of society, one movement or one individual. It is a matter that impacts communities across South Africa.

“South Africans are tired of standing in long queues in hospitals. They are tired of competing for spaces in public schools with illegal immigrants. South Africans are tired of competing for jobs with foreign nationals who are appointed in conflict with section 8 of the Employment Services Act.”

Investigation and next steps

Saps said those arrested at the Limpopo farm were taken into custody following the compliance inspection. The farm owner faces charges related to harbouring and employing illegal immigrants. The police statement did not provide further details about court dates or the processing of the suspects.