The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested five suspects on charges of intimidation, incitement of violence and impersonating home affairs officials against a legal Nigerian immigrant in Lephalale, a statement said.
In the early hours of Monday morning, 13 July, a reactive tactical intelligence-driven operation conducted in Marapong Township, Lephalale, led to the arrest of the five suspects, police said.
They were responding to an incident reported by a Nigerian national on Thursday, 09 July 2026, who is the owner of a lounge. 
It follows the country’s June 30 citizen-backed vacation of undocumented immigrants from South Africa, which was mobilised by the March and March movements.
The complainant alleged that “a group of community members confronted him at his business and instructed him to close it, claiming that, as a foreign national, he had no right to operate a business in South Africa.”
“The group allegedly threatened to destroy his business and demanded that he leave the country,” the statement said, adding that the complainant was subsequently escorted to the Department of Home Affairs offices in Lephalale, where he made a statement.
Police say the complainant’s immigration documents were verified and confirmed to be valid. He then opened a case at Lephalale Police Station.
“Acting on information received, members of Lephalale Visible Policing, Detectives, and Public Order Policing conducted a planned tactical operation targeting suspects allegedly involved in the incident.
The police rounded up the five suspects from different locations in the Marapong Township. It is said that one of the suspects had an additional but separate charge of intimidation.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were allegedly among the instigators mobilising community members against undocumented foreign nationals and encouraging the unlawful removal of foreign nationals from the township. The suspects were identified through ongoing investigations, including the analysis of available evidence,” the statement said.
The accused, aged between 20 and 58, have been charged with allegations of intimidation, incitement of violence, and impersonating Home Office officials.
They are expected to appear before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
