More than 200 foreign nationals, the majority from Zimbabwe, have been arrested in a wave of police operations across the Western Cape since June 2026. Despite some having valid documentation, at least 100 remain held in police cells and correctional facilities, sparking accusations of indiscriminate arrests and demands for urgent government intervention.
The raids, which began in June and have targeted areas including Robertson, Montagu, Ashton, Bonnievale, and McGregor, have led to arrests primarily of Zimbabwean, Mozambican, Malawian, and Lesotho nationals. Many were charged with overstaying visas, but community groups allege that even those with proper paperwork were detained.
The Western Cape Coalition Against Xenophobia reports that individuals were taken from streets and homes, with some presenting valid permits yet still being held. The South African Police Service has denied any blanket targeting of foreigners, stating that operations were based on credible information and due process.
One case highlighted by activists involves Michael Chanyamwaka, who was arrested on 1 June. He paid his R1,800 fine on 27 June but was only released on 19 August — nearly two months after fulfilling his penalty. Another detainee, community leader Lovemore Maporisa, was arrested on 27 August while delivering toiletries and legal documents to fellow migrants. He remains at Robertson Correctional Centre with his case postponed to 10 September.
The Zimbabwean Civic Movement has called on South African authorities to expedite processing, allowing detainees to be either released or formally repatriated. The group also reports that deported individuals often lose personal belongings such as phones and cash, despite signing property affidavits before departure.
Among those still in custody is a couple whose three-year-old daughter is being cared for by relatives. Many of the detained were primary breadwinners for their families, and their prolonged absence has severed remittance flows, separated households, and left dozens of Zimbabwean families in financial limbo.
Human rights organizations have urged both the South African and Zimbabwean governments to clarify the legal status of detainees and ensure that arrest and deportation procedures comply with regional protocols. The ongoing detentions have heightened tensions in communities already strained by anti-immigrant sentiments, with locals and foreign nationals living in close proximity.
As the situation develops, families and advocates continue to press for transparency and humane treatment, warning that prolonged detention without clear communication risks further inflaming xenophobic attitudes and deepening the humanitarian crisis.