Mpuma crime crackdown success

2009-01-07 21:10

Thabisile Khoza

Komatipoort - More than 2 000 illegal immigrants have been arrested at roadblocks throughout Mpumalanga since January 1.

Regional director of Home Affairs, Robert Zitha, said 2 194 illegal immigrants had been arrested and deported by January 6 as part of a joint operation between various provincial government departments, the South African Revenue Service and the police.

"We won't disclose where the roadblocks are otherwise we will undermine the exercise," he said.

He said some of the illegal immigrants were arrested at the Lebombo border gate between South Africa and Mozambique, however.

Zitha said the illegals came from countries such as Mozambique, Swaziland, Burundi and Pakistan.

Head of border control at the Lebombo border gate, Mbongiseni Msongweni, said 1 116 undocumented Mozambicans alone had been deported across the Lebombo border between January 1 and January 6.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Superintendent Abie Khoabane said police had arrested another 1 164 illegal immigrants towards the end of December, bringing the total number of arrested illegal immigrants to 3 358 within two weeks.

He said 5 372 suspects were also arrested for various crimes, including 45 who were wanted for rape, murder and burglary.

A further 156 people were arrested for drunken driving and that fines worth R828 227 were issued to motorists.

Dagga with a street value of R350 000 and 3 602 firearms were also confiscated.

Some 22 671 bottles of liquor were confiscated from illegal taverns.

He said 100 stolen vehicles were also recovered in the province in December.

- African Eye