South African authorities say nearly 60,000 undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested in 2026. Police attributed the figure to intensified enforcement efforts, including Operation Shanela and other operations targeting illegal immigration and crime. The statement indicates that arrests are increasing as law enforcement agencies step up border-related and urban policing activities to identify people without the required immigration status.
According to the report, the arrests relate specifically to undocumented migrants rather than citizens or residents with valid documentation. The information is presented as part of the broader government and police response to illegal immigration and related criminality. The sources do not provide additional breakdowns, such as nationalities, locations of arrests, or how many cases resulted in convictions or further legal action. The reporting also does not detail whether the figure reflects unique individuals or total arrests.
Overall, the account focuses on police enforcement statistics for 2026 and links the increase in arrests to ongoing operations aimed at curbing illegal immigration and associated crime.
