Minister Leon Schreiber led an Operation New Broom raid in Gqeberha on 11 July 2025, leading to the arrest of 95 illegal immigrants.
The enforcement action, conducted in Nelson Mandela Bay, forms part of the department’s broader campaign to uphold immigration laws and restore order in urban centres. Operation New Broom was launched in May 2025 and has already seen similar raids in Cape Town and Pretoria.
During the latest operation, officials uncovered a dilapidated warehouse being used to shelter foreign nationals without legal documentation. A Chinese-owned business operating on the premises was also found to be in violation of multiple immigration regulations.
All 95 undocumented individuals were processed for deportation, and the Department of Home Affairs is expected to seek court confirmation of the deportation orders today.
Minister Schreiber emphasised that the operation reflects a determined effort to re-establish the rule of law in South Africa’s immigration system. “Operation New Broom demonstrates our commitment to work in a focused manner to restore the rule of law,” he said.
He issued a warning to undocumented individuals residing in the country: “Our message to people who are in our country illegally is clear—voluntarily self-deport now, before Home Affairs deports you and bans you from entering South Africa altogether.”
