MANDENI, KWAZULU-NATAL — Authorities in KwaZulu-Natal are significantly escalating their illegal immigrants crackdown, tightening the screws on local businesses suspected of violating national immigration and labor laws. Premier Thamsanqa (Thami) Ntuli announced that enforcement efforts will be heavily intensified throughout September under the banner of Operation Engangeni Ngesango Iyafohla.
The operation, whose name loosely translates to “entering through the proper gate,” signifies that all employment and immigration practices must strictly adhere to the law, with any deviation treated as a severe violation. Recent compliance raids in and around the Mandeni Municipality targeted factories and companies suspected of harboring illegal immigrants and flouting labor regulations.
However, Premier Ntuli expressed concern over intelligence leaks during a recent compliance sweep. Several businesses earmarked for inspection abruptly shut their doors before officials arrived. Factory owners were reportedly tipped off, allowing them to send employees home early in the morning to evade detection. Despite these setbacks, Ntuli insists that the broader illegal immigrants crackdown will not be derailed. He confirmed that the South African Police Service (SAPS), with a tactical team led by Diamond, is actively arresting culprits and processing them through the courts. Follow-up inspections are also being scheduled to ensure that shut-down facilities do not quietly resume unlawful operations.
The leaks have pointed authorities toward a deeper issue of collusion and extortion. According to police engagements, extortionists are demanding money from non-compliant business owners in exchange for protecting their illegal operations. Ntuli highlighted a previous operation in the Stanger area involving over 300 illegal immigrants, where authorities identified an extortionist working within a local municipality who was allegedly protecting these lawbreakers. The provincial government has vowed to deliberately dismantle these extortion rings that enable the exploitation of illegal immigrants.
Beyond immigration enforcement, the September initiative places a heavy emphasis on labor rights and workplace safety. Multi-departmental teams, including environmental health inspectors and officials from the Department of Employment and Labor, are assessing compliance with minimum wage laws. During a recent engagement, officials uncovered severe exploitation, with one employee reporting that they were paid just 350 rand for nearly a week of work—equating to a meager 1,400 rand a month, far below the legal minimum wage.
Operation Engangeni Ngesango Iyafohla builds upon campaigns initially launched in 2024, inviting local police stations, the Department of Home Affairs, and municipalities to conduct full-scale, province-wide compliance measurements. By ensuring rigorous, lawful enforcement, the provincial government aims to maintain social cohesion and prevent frustrated communities from taking the law into their own hands due to perceived government inaction.
At the same time, Ntuli emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of legal immigrants. He noted that his office is actively investigating reports of legally residing immigrants living in fear in specific residential areas, some of whom have expressed a desire to leave the country due to safety concerns. By strictly targeting illegal immigrants and their enablers while protecting legal residents, KwaZulu-Natal aims to restore lawful order and ensure fair labor practices across all industries.
