DA takes steps to address the problem of illegal immigrants in Johannesburg
20 June 2018
The DA-led City of Johannesburg is working with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to address the growing challenge of illegal immigrants living in the City. Unverified reports suggest that the problem has become endemic to a level where the City of Johannesburg is currently playing host to an estimated 500 000 illegal immigrants.
A committee comprising of the DHA and the City was set up to spearhead a clear programme of action to deal with the problem, which the DA inherited when it took over the administration of the City from the ANC less than two years ago.
Available evidence from police crime statistics, indicate that illegal immigrants are partly responsible for the rise in contact crimes in the City. The lack of verifiable documentation, often poses challenges to crime investigators working to solve crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
The City of Johannesburg is a critical stakeholder in the fight against crime, and it is incumbent upon City administrators to ensure that law and order is maintained. It is for this reason that seven raids carried out by the City and the DHA was able to expose hundreds of illegal immigrants who had taken over 134 buildings in the CBD.