Home Affairs unveils 'Operation New Broom' to combat illegal immigration
The Department of Home Affairs has launched 'Operation New Broom' to tackle illegal immigration.
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In a bid to intensify efforts against illegal immigration, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber on Thursday launched Operation New Broom, a nationwide technology-driven initiative aimed at arresting, convicting and deporting undocumented immigrants occupying public spaces.
The department said during the first sweep of the operation, 25 undocumented individuals were arrested while occupying land illegally.
“As with everything else we do, Operation New Broom is guided by our commitment to the rule of law,” said Minister Schreiber at the launch. “It is this commitment that both motivates us to do more to combat illegality and to uphold due process and legal compliance in the process.”
He said the operation will be rolled out in urban areas across the country. It focuses on the use of biometric verification technology to detect fraudulent documentation and confirm the immigration status of suspects. Officials say this innovation will help build stronger legal cases and enhance the efficiency of deportation processes.
Home Affairs officials involved in the operation explained that biometric checks, including fingerprint and facial recognition scans, will be used on-site during raids. This aims to reduce reliance on paper-based documentation, which is often forged or tampered with by individuals seeking to evade immigration laws.
The Minister noted that Operation New Broom is part of a broader digital transformation within the Department of Home Affairs and its associated entities, such as the Border Management Authority.
“The benefits of our commitment to digital transformation are being felt across all areas of Home Affairs’ mandate, including through the strides made by the Border Management Authority at the borders and by Home Affairs inland,” he said.
Schreiber also issued a stern warning to individuals residing in South Africa without legal documentation: “Our message to anyone who is in the country illegally is clear: voluntarily deport yourself now, before we arrest and prohibit you from entering or obtaining legal status in South Africa in future.”
Operation New Broom has already drawn attention from human rights and immigration activists, who are expected to monitor its rollout closely.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that similar operations are planned for Johannesburg, Durban, and other major metros in the coming weeks.