Over 90 illegal immigrants nabbed in Houghton

JOBURG MMC for Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, who on Wednesday night led a crime-fighting operation in Houghton, Sandton, has confirmed the arrest of more than 90 illegal immigrants at a hijacked house in the area.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

According to the MMC, the 90 undocumented foreign nationals were found to be paying rent to another undocumented foreign national, who in turn reports to a third-party figure said to be a white male.

It was revealed that while there were concerns about human trafficking and exploitation, authorities found no concrete evidence of these allegations during the operation.

As a result, the authorities have marked the premises for closure while the remaining residents were processed for either deportation or legal proceedings.

Tshwaku indicated that the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and other law enforcement agencies will continue to monitor the house to prevent future illegal reoccupation as the city continues to clamp down on hijacked buildings and the city’s growing illegal immigration problem.