PRETORIA – South African law enforcement authorities have apprehended more than 76,000 undocumented foreign nationals over a 12-month period as part of an intensified national security crackdown.

The large-scale arrests occurred between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 across all nine provinces. The momentum has carried into the current term, with approximately 1,900 undocumented individuals detained in the past week alone under the ongoing multi-disciplinary police initiative, Operation Shanela.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the operational statistics, emphasizing the police’s commitment to upholding immigration laws and securing communities.

“During the past financial year, between the 1st of April 2025 and 31st of March 2026, more than 76,588 illegal foreigners were arrested countrywide,” Mathe said. “The acting national commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Bulelang Mbambeni, has reiterated that police will continue to intensify operations to ensure that those found to be in the country illegally are processed in accordance with the law.”

Mathe also appealed to local communities to cooperate with formal law enforcement channels by reporting suspected illegal activities, while strongly warning citizens against engaging in acts of vigilantism.