Five arrested in Lephalale over alleged intimidation and anti-foreigner campaign

Five people have been arrested in Lephalale, Limpopo, for allegedly intimidating foreign nationals, inciting violence and falsely posing as Department of Home Affairs officials.

In a statement on Tuesday police spokesperson in Limpopo Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said, the suspects aged between 20 and 58, were arrested during a multidisciplinary intelligence-led operation carried out in Marapong Township in the early hours of Monday.

Ledwaba said the incident was reported on 9 July, when a Nigerian businessman claimed he was confronted by a group of community members at his lounge and ordered to shut down his business. The group allegedly told him that, as a foreign national, he had no right to operate a business in South Africa.

"The group allegedly threatened to destroy his business and demanded that he leave the country. The complainant was subsequently escorted to the Department of Home Affairs offices in Lephalale, where his immigration documents were verified and confirmed to be valid. He thereafter opened a case of intimidation at Lephalale Police Station," said Ledwaba.

The five suspects were arrested at various addresses in Marapong Township. One of them is also expected to face an additional charge in connection with a separate intimidation case.

Preliminary investigations suggest the suspects were allegedly among those mobilising community members against undocumented foreign nationals and encouraging the unlawful removal of foreign nationals from the area.

The accused are expected to appear before the Lephalale Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.