GAUTENG. – Die departement van binnelandse sake het sewe Keniaanse burgers, wat glo aansoeke van sogenaamde “vlugtelinge” vir die VSA verwerk, tydens ‘n operasie in hegtenis geneem.
Carli van Wyk, woordvoerder vir die minister van binnelandse sake, sê in ‘n verklaring die operasie het gevolg op intelligensie-inligting dat Keniane, wat glo met Suid-Afrika op toeristevisums die land binnegekom het, onwettig werksaam was by ’n sentrum wat aansoeke van sogenaamde “vlugtelinge” vir die Verenigde State verwerk. Vorige visumaansoeke om dié werk wettig te verrig, is reeds deur die departement afgekeur. Die sewe is glo betrap terwyl hulle teenstrydig met hulle visumvoorwaardes gewerk het. Hulle is in hegtenis geneem, met deportasiebevele bedien en sal verbied word om weer die land in die volgende vyf jaar binne te kom.
Die departement het beklemtoon dat geen Amerikaanse amptenare tydens die operasie in hegtenis geneem is nie, dat dit nie by ’n diplomatieke perseel plaasgevind het nie en dat geen lede van die publiek of beweerde vlugtelinge geteister is nie.
Binnelandse Sake sê die optrede vorm deel van ’n verskerpte poging om immigrasie- en visummisbruik hok te slaan en bevestig Suid-Afrika se samewerking met die Verenigde State om onwettige immigrasie te bekamp. Die departement van internasionale betrekkinge en samewerking het intussen formele diplomatieke gesprekke met die Verenigde State en Kenia begin om die aangeleentheid verder te hanteer.
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MEDIA STATEMENT
Home Affairs arrests seven Kenyan nationals illegally working on “refugee” applications
17 December 2025
Yesterday, the Department of Home Affairs, in collaboration with other arms of law enforcement, executed a routine, lawful operation in Johannesburg targeted at suspected violations of South African immigration law. The operation followed after intelligence reports indicated that a number of Kenyan nationals had recently entered South Africa on tourist visas and had illegally taken up work at a centre processing the applications of so-called “refugees” to the United States. This was despite the fact that earlier visa applications for Kenyan nationals to perform this work had been lawfully declined by the Department.
During the operation, seven Kenyan nationals were discovered engaging in work despite only being in possession of tourist visas, in clear violation of their conditions of entry into the country. They were arrested and issued with deportation orders, and will be prohibited from entering South Africa again for a five-year period.
The operation was carried out according to the same procedures that has seen Home Affairs dramatically intensify deportations over the past 18 months,
as the South African government diligently works to turn around the longstanding abuse of our immigration and visa system. No US officials were arrested in the process, the operation was not conducted at a diplomatic site, and no members of the public or prospective “refugees” were harassed.
The operation reinforces Home Affairs’ commitment to enforcing the rule of law without fear or favour, as no person or entity is above these laws. It also showcases the commitment that South Africa shares with the United States to combating illegal immigration and visa abuse in all its forms.
The presence of foreign officials apparently coordinating with undocumented workers naturally raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has initiated formal diplomatic engagements with both the United States and Kenya to resolve this matter.
Media Enquiries:
Carli Van Wyk – Spokesperson to the Minister
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
