Five people have been arrested in Limpopo after a coordinated police operation targeting individuals accused of intimidating a foreign business owner, inciting community action against migrants and falsely presenting themselves as officials from the Department of Home Affairs.
The arrests were made during an intelligence-led operation carried out in the early hours of 13 July in Marapong Township, Lephalale. Police said the operation involved multiple law enforcement units, including Visible Policing, Detectives and Public Order Policing.
The case centres on a Nigerian national who allegedly faced threats after being told he had no right to operate a business in South Africa because of his nationality.
Police Investigate Alleged Intimidation Campaign
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the investigation began after an incident reported on 9 July.
The complainant, who owns a lounge in Marapong Township, told police that a group of community members confronted him at his business premises and ordered him to shut down.
The group allegedly claimed that, as a foreign national, he was not permitted to run a business in South Africa. They also threatened to destroy his property and demanded that he leave the country.
Following the incident, the businessman was escorted to the local Department of Home Affairs office, where officials verified that his immigration documents were valid.
He later opened a criminal case of intimidation at Lephalale Police Station.
Acting on intelligence gathered during the investigation, police arrested five suspects aged between 20 and 58 at various addresses in Marapong Township.
Investigators believe the suspects were among those mobilising residents against undocumented foreign nationals and encouraging the unlawful removal of migrants from the community.
Police also confirmed that one of the suspects is expected to face an additional intimidation charge linked to a separate case.
Police Warn Against Vigilante Immigration Enforcement
The arrests come amid ongoing public debate over undocumented immigration and community-led actions targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.
Acting Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Major General Jan Scheepers stressed that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of authorised government institutions and law enforcement agencies.
He said no individual or community organisation has the legal authority to inspect identity documents, verify immigration status or remove foreign nationals from any community.
Police urged residents who suspect immigration violations to report their concerns through official channels instead of taking the law into their own hands.
The five suspects are expected to appear before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on 15 July, while investigations into the case remain ongoing.
Source: South African Police Service (SAPS)