Over 30 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested during an early-morning cleanup operation led by the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg at Homestead Park. The operation, which began at 5 a.m., formed part of the city’s #JoburgReimagined campaign aimed at reclaiming public spaces from illegal occupation.
According to city officials, about 65 people were found living in the park, with more than 30 confirmed to be undocumented foreign nationals. Authorities demolished illegal shacks and removed unauthorized structures that had been set up by informal settlers and recyclers over recent months.
The operation was a joint effort involving the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), led by Acting Chief Director Eldred Fortein, the City’s Public Safety Department under Commissioner Patrick Jaca, as well as Regional Director Ireen Mafune, and teams from Joburg Parks and Zoo and the Johannesburg Roads Agency.
Officials said the cleanup forms part of efforts to curb rising crime in Homestead Park, where residents have reported incidents of robbery, rape, stabbing, and land invasion linked to the illegal settlements. The arrested undocumented foreign nationals will be handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further processing.
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