PRETORIA – South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has rolled out a countrywide crackdown targeting undocumented foreign nationals, warning they must leave voluntarily or face arrest and future bans.
The operation, known as Operation New Broom, began on Wednesday in District Six, Cape Town. It uses biometric verification to swiftly identify immigration violators, aiming to prevent the use of fraudulent documents and strengthen the prosecution of offenders.
The initiative is being spearheaded by South Africa’s new Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber. He said the department is turning to digital tools to enforce immigration laws more effectively, especially in urban areas where illegal occupation of public land has been rising. 
This morning, #TeamHomeAffairs launched 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 in Cape Town. To restore rule of law, we’re focusing on hotspots across SA to arrest, convict and deport illegal immigrants occupying public spaces. Lawful, intel-led, tech-driven solutions in action! 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/du6tgaMMCr
— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) May 21, 2025
During the Cape Town launch, authorities arrested 25 people accused of unlawfully occupying land earmarked for families removed during apartheid-era forced evictions.
Schreiber warned that foreigners living in South Africa without documentation must return to their countries or risk being apprehended. “Voluntarily deport yourself now, before we arrest and prohibit you from entering or obtaining legal status in South Africa in future,” he said.
The operation is part of a broader campaign tied to the country’s digital transformation of border management. In April, the Border Management Authority introduced a new surveillance system that includes drones and 40 body-worn cameras. The technology is now active at OR Tambo International Airport and border posts in Ficksburg and Maseru.
