South Africa's Multi-Agency Enforcement Drive Faces Scrutiny Over Constitutional Complianc

NATJOINTS Chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili has outlined the full scope of South Africa’s coordinated enforcement campaign, spanning immigration compliance, workplace inspections and border security, with officials insisting every operation remains grounded in the Constitution and applicable legislation.

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which coordinates the multidisciplinary response, has placed Operation Shanela at the centre of the government’s crime-fighting strategy. The operation deploys intelligence-driven enforcement teams daily across all nine provinces, targeting wanted suspects, illegal firearms, drugs, organised crime and undocumented foreign nationals. In the month preceding Mosikili’s update, 16,208 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested through Shanela and related operations. Since January, cumulative arrests have reached 59,947. Mosikili confirmed the operations will continue without interruption.

Repatriation figures reflect the scale of the mandate. As of 3 August 2026, a total of 77,184 undocumented foreign nationals had been repatriated to various countries. Between 1 April and 31 July, 18,816 people were formally deported, while 3,016 remained at the Lindela Repatriation Centre awaiting deportation. Government has begun demobilising the Repatriation Centre in Musina, where just over 500 people are expected to be repatriated in the coming days. Mosikili characterised the operation as having been conducted in an orderly, humane and lawful manner through collaboration between government departments, foreign missions in South Africa and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, workplace compliance forms a second critical pillar of the enforcement strategy. The Department of Employment and Labour is coordinating 6,317 labour inspectors conducting nationwide workplace inspections under the National Multidisciplinary High-Impact Blitz Operations. These inspections are designed to ensure compliance with labour laws while protecting workers and legitimate businesses. Compliance inspections at spaza shops are also continuing nationally, covering municipal by-laws, food safety regulations, business licensing requirements and immigration legislation where applicable. During July, the Eastern Cape recorded the highest number of inspections with 14,948 spaza shops inspected, followed by the Free State with 10,406, Gauteng with 2,631, KwaZulu-Natal with 2,617, Limpopo with 1,315, North West with 1,101, Northern Cape with 915 and Mpumalanga with 229. Government has indicated these inspections will continue as part of its broader compliance programme.

Border oversight adds a third enforcement layer. The Border Management Authority is strengthening operations through technology and intelligence-led interventions, including the Vehicle Targeting System at the Lebombo Port of Entry, which has improved detection of stolen vehicles, smuggling and other illicit cross-border crimes. The BMA operates jointly with the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force, South African Revenue Service Customs and other departments. NATJOINTS reported 93 joint border law enforcement operations in June and 81 in July, with officials describing results as positive.

Officials have also moved to counter what they characterise as misinformation circulating on social media. NATJOINTS said several videos being shared online falsely link criminal incidents to anti-illegal immigration campaigns. Mosikili stated this is incorrect and urged the public not to share unverified information. Among the incidents NATJOINTS specifically identified: the fatal shooting of a Zambian truck driver on South Coast Road in KwaZulu-Natal on 26 June; the murder of a Ugandan national in Estcourt; and the shooting of a Ghanaian national in Nyanga, Western Cape, believed to have been extortion-related. A 42-year-old Nigerian national died after collapsing while in police custody during a SAPS operation in Bellville on 23 July, with drugs and an unlicensed firearm recovered at the scene. That matter is under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. In KwaZulu-Natal, two suspects have been arrested following the murder of an Ethiopian national in Elandslaagte. NATJOINTS cautioned the public against attributing criminal incidents to anti-illegal immigration operations without evidence.

The enforcement measures are occurring against a backdrop of anti-illegal immigration protests that have declined significantly since nationwide demonstrations on 30 June. Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal continue to experience isolated and localised demonstrations, but NATJOINTS said most protests have remained peaceful and within the law. Where violence, intimidation, road blockades, infrastructure damage or other criminal conduct occurred, police responded in accordance with Public Order Policing protocols.

Mosikili closed by reaffirming the government’s commitment to the rule of law. Everyone holds the constitutional right to protest peacefully, he said, but no person has the right to take the law into their own hands. Whether the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s inquiry into the Bellville custody death will prompt any formal review of operational protocols remains an open question as the campaign continues. More information on government’s law enforcement approach is available at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-continues-focus-law-enforcement-efforts.