Gauteng police net over 127 illegal immigrants as crime remains in check on New Year’s Eve

In a decisive move to ensure public safety during the New Year’s celebrations, Gauteng law enforcement officials arrested more than 127 illegal immigrants during a series of comprehensive roadblocks late Wednesday night. This operation is part of the Safer Festive Season campaign, spearheaded by Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni.

Police, traffic, and metro officers were deployed across key hotspots in Johannesburg and other urban centres, conducting thorough checks on vehicles and motorists for documentation and safety compliance. Among those detained were two individuals discovered in possession of fraudulently obtained asylum seeker papers. This highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing illegal immigration while also working to uphold public safety.

The high-visibility operation, which coincided with the welcoming of 2026, aimed to sustain the proactive police presence credited with keeping crime rates relatively low during a time traditionally associated with increases in criminal activity. "Our efforts are largely about creating a safe environment for citizens to celebrate and enjoy their festivities," said Lieutenant-General Mthombeni.

In alignment with this initiative, officials noted a significant decline in driving-under-the-influence incidents, with only a handful of related arrests made compared to higher figures in previous years. This decrease suggests that messaging around responsible drinking and heightened enforcement may be resonating positively with partygoers.

The festive safety operations in Gauteng are part of wider high-density enforcement strategies initiated in October, which include the Safer Festive Season campaign and Operation Shanela II, aimed at disrupting crime through detailed roadblocks, stop-and-search operations, and focused patrols in known crime corridors.