Motetema residents force out undocumented migrants

Motetema

Hundreds of disgruntled community members from Motetema Township outside Groblersdal, leaded by Mkhonto We Sizwe (MK) Political Party, have on Monday 2 September, went on a rampage and evacuated undocumented foreign nationals in the township.

They were accusing the migrants of being engaged in criminal activities that are seen to be prevalent in the township.

During the evacuation, a group of Motetema residents, went house to house checking for illegal migrants and chasing them away from the township.

MK Party leader in Motetema, Solomon Mmatladi, said they were removing the undocumented foreign nationals because they are tired of them committing crime and not being arrested.

“Mkhonto We Sizwe is leading and removing illegal undocumented foreigners, we are cleaning our country. This is a daily programme now. We have an agreement with the local station commander and we were shocked when the police was denying to deport them or even detain them. The community is ensuring that they are moved totally out of our township,” he said.

Mmatladi indicated that they are removing undocumented foreign nationals to eradicate and prevent all root forms of crime, corruption and making the entire Motetema free from illegal foreign nationals.

According to Mmatladi, the community is worried about the influx of foreign nationals in Motetema occupying sections of Shushumela, Rangers, Morula View and Phomola, whom majority are committing crimes such as armed robberies and sell expired and counterfeit goods to residents.

The foreign nationals are from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Pakistan, Sudan, Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

Mmatladi informed that they raised concerns with Motetema Police Station demanding the station commander to motivate a clean-up operation with relevant sector department including immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs.

“The raid was conducted on 25 August at a local spaza shops at Motetema Sections that are occupied by foreign nationals in a search for undocumented immigrants. Forty-two undocumented immigrants were arrested however, to our surprise, they were back on the streets the next day. We are worried that some of the police officials are taking bribes to release the illegal migrants instead of fighting for their deportation. This is the reason we are taking the matter in our hands as the community because we no longer have trust in law enforcement,” said Mmatladi.

Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, has confirmed that the police in Motetema together with Department of Home Affairs and members of the community, conducted an operation on 25 August 2024 where 42 undocumented foreign nationals were nabbed.

“Following their apprehension, they were processed by Department of Home Affairs and deported back to their country of origin, through the Beitbridge port of entry,” he said.

However, Mmatladi has refuted the deportation saying the majority of arrested undocumented foreign nationals are back in Motetema.

Mashaba said members of the community have the right to effect citizen’s arrest in the absence of police and immediately, they have to alert the police to handle the matter further without taking law into their own hands.

“Furthermore, the community members are not authorised to conduct operations without any member of the SAPS involved. As part of partnership policing, if they are involved, they must work as a force multiplier in the fight against under strict supervision of a SAPS member,” he said.