Mahikeng, South Africa – South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale, has urged communities not to harbour undocumented foreign nationals, citing challenges in tracing and prosecuting crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Inter-Ministerial Crime Prevention Community Engagement at the Mmabatho Civic Centre in Mahikeng, North West, Mathale said anyone found accommodating or employing undocumented foreigners faces arrest. This includes landlords renting rooms or spaza shops to illegal immigrants and business owners hiring them, even if they present fraudulent documents.
Mathale also directed police to crack down on illegal shebeens selling illicit alcohol, insisting authorities should not show leniency to those breaking the law.
The event brought together government leaders, law enforcement, stakeholders, and local communities to address crime collaboratively. The imbizo focused on strengthening coordination between police and community members, targeting issues such as gender-based violence, femicide, and other prevalent crimes.
Lieutenant General Maropeng Johanna Mamothethi, SAPS Divisional Commissioner for Visible Policing and Operations, said the fight against crime requires shared responsibility. She noted that the police would combine law enforcement efforts with social crime prevention initiatives.
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