FILE Photo: Foreigners are being arrested in mass in South Africa

FILE Photo: Foreigners are being arrested in mass in South Africa

 

Foreigners are being arrested in mass in South Africa

Foreigners living in South Africa’s Johannesburg are being hounded and arrested in a mass onslaught.

South African media report say at least 600 foreign nationals were arrested by police on Wednesday.

In the targeted search operation carried out in the main city, Johannesburg, police also confiscated firearms and a “large consignment” of counterfeit goods in various buildings.

David Makhura, premier of the Gauteng province which surrounds Johannesburg, tweeted that the operation is a part of a clean-up operation:

He said the authorities were happy with the number of suspects arrested, according to South African newspaper the Citizen.

“The main issue have [sic] been with people who are driving taxis without licences and these taxis are not supposed to be on our roads,” the paper quotes the premier as saying.

The operation, known as O Kae Molao, is trending on social media, where some people raised concerns that it might encourage xenophobia.

 

Editorial Chief, Nigerian Bureau

Kings UBA is a Nigerian journalist and writer. I have reported for major local and international news organisations. I write satire. In 2017, I started contributing stories primarily to Discover Africa News Network. I can be reached on editorkingsuba@gmail.com. I currently manage Discover Africa News social media handles