The City of Tshwane conducted a weekly crime operation in Sunnyside, resulting in the arrest of 61 undocumented immigrants and the issuance of R133,000 in fines. This operation, held on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, aimed to tackle lawlessness in the area. Additionally, three individuals were apprehended for hiring and sheltering illegal immigrants.
The operation was executed by the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), working alongside the Gauteng Traffic Police, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and various city departments such as Economic Development, Spatial Planning, and Health. Authorities carried out searches, inspections, and confiscations to enforce compliance with regulations.
This crackdown was part of the ongoing Reclaim Our City initiative, which is a weekly campaign led by the mayoral executive to fight crime and disorder in Pretoria’s inner city. It particularly targets areas including Sunnyside, Pretoria West, and Pretoria Central, focusing on undocumented immigrants, unregulated businesses, and non-compliant establishments. The initiative has received backing from the provincial government, promoting cooperation in law enforcement.
During the recent operation, law enforcement officials arrested 61 undocumented immigrants, categorised as follows:
• 16 from Zimbabwe
• 4 from Nigeria
• 21 from Malawi
• 9 from Mozambique
• 1 from Senegal
• 5 from Ethiopia
• 5 from Uganda
Three individuals were also arrested for employing and sheltering undocumented immigrants. Officers conducted searches and confiscated numerous items, including:
• 26 perishable goods
• 11 taxis operating without proper route permits
• 108,560 ml of liquor, which was transferred to the Pretoria West SAPS
Additionally, law enforcement searched:
• 456 individuals
• 109 vehicles
• 34 premises
• 7 drug hotspots
• 10 problematic buildings
• 44 street vendors
• 2 second-hand goods shops
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Other actions taken included visits to 24 spaza shops and 1 liquor outlet, which resulted in the closure of the liquor outlet, as well as inspections of 29 vehicles.
