Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has hailed the Beitbridge border post drug bust as evidence that the department’s reforms are bearing fruit in the fight against illegal immigration and transnational crime.

Speaking during a Border Management Authority (BMA) briefing on Friday, Schreiber said operations such as the Beitbridge interception were “tangible proof” that reforms were working, particularly efforts to capture biometric data on all entrants.

The BMA on Thursday announced the seizure of a drug consignment with an estimated street value of R998.2 million after a Malawi-registered truck was intercepted at the Beitbridge border post in an intelligence-led operation tracking a vehicle travelling from Zimbabwe into South Africa.

An extensive search followed, with officials “painstakingly dismantling the truck over more than eight hours” before discovering about 713,000 grams of methaqualone, commonly known as mandrax, a key component in its illicit manufacture.

Schreiber praised the BMA, saying the operation demonstrated that authorities were not acting blindly.

“The work done ahead of time meant the BMA understood this truck had to be targeted and had the technological tools and cooperation with SARS to do so,” he said.

Three suspects — a Malawian man, a Malawian woman and a Zambian man — were arrested and handed over to the Hawks for further investigation. They appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Schreiber commended officials involved in the operation for their “vigilance, professionalism, discipline and determination”, saying their work reflected the type of law enforcement capability needed in the country.

He added that the interception was not a “stroke of luck” but the result of sustained reforms aimed at rebuilding border security capacity and restoring the rule of law.

“For too long, organised criminal syndicates treated South Africa’s border posts as weak points for trafficking drugs, illicit goods and undocumented persons. That era is coming to an end,” he said.

Schreiber said the success reflected ongoing reforms across the BMA and the broader Home Affairs system, including investment in intelligence-led enforcement, modern technology and digital transformation.

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A drug consignment with an estimated street value of R998.2 million has been intercepted at the Beitbridge border post after an intelligence-driven operation flagged a truck travelling through Zimbabwe into South Africa, Home Affairs said on Thursday.

The truck was stopped on Wednesday after it was identified ahead of its arrival by the Border Management Authority’s (BMA) National Targeting Centre.

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An extensive physical search then took place, according to Home Affairs, “painstakingly dismantling the truck over more than eight hours” before finding about 713 000 grams of methaqualone, commonly known as ABBA, a substance widely used in the manufacture of mandrax.

On arrival at Beitbridge, the vehicle was subjected to a non-intrusive cargo scan using the truck scanner at the port. The scan confirmed “suspicious anomalies” and revealed a hidden compartment.

The Hawks and SAPS K9 units were later called in to assist with the operation.

Three Malawian suspects were arrested and are being held at Musina Police Station. The Hawks are continuing investigations into the origin and intended destination of the consignment.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber commended the law enforcement officials involved in the operation.

“This operation constitutes likely the single biggest success in recent times against the drug trade and cross-border smuggling. It demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that our investment in intelligence-driven work as well as digital transformation, is empowering the BMA to restore the rule of law at South Africa’s borders,” Schreiber said.

“I commend the women and men of the BMA for their commitment and diligence that resulted in this breakthrough. It sends a powerful message to would-be smugglers that South Africa is clamping down on illegality through intelligence and technology.

“This, as one of the most successful anti-smuggling operations our country has seen, shows that the BMA’s strategy is yielding result and serves to motivate us to do even more to restore the rule of law.”

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The first group of Ghanaian nationals left South Africa from O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday as part of a voluntary repatriation process arranged by the Ghanaian government, as tensions continue to flare over undocumented migrants.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, only 10 out of the 300 individuals screened before departure were found to be legally in the country.

Home Affairs’ Immigration and Law Enforcement Head Stephen van Neel told the SABC that the majority of those processed were undocumented, had overstayed, or had violated immigration laws.

“Of the 300 individuals that were on that list, we only found 10 of them being legal in the country, the rest of them are illegal without documents or actually not complying or have overstayed, but there are some sanctions that need to be taken, and the Department of Home Affairs will indeed make sure those are implemented,” Van Neel said.

There has been a renewed wave of anti-illegal immigration mobilisation in South Africa, where March and March has organised demonstrations in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban calling for tougher action against illegal foreign nationals. Some of those protests have resulted in the intimidation of legal and illegal foreign nationals and attacks.

Human Rights Watch said last week that vigilante groups had carried out “violent xenophobic attacks” against African and Asian foreign nationals, with an “insufficient response” from police and other authorities.

Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe have warned their citizens in South Africa to remain alert.

Some Ghanaian nationals who had been held at the Lindela Repatriation Centre were also expected to be placed on the flight back to Ghana.

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, wrote a welcoming statement on X, saying: “Ghana wishes our cherished citizens a safe flight from South Africa. We cannot wait to warmly welcome you all to our beloved nation.”

Speaking during a streamed speech, he also said: “You’re not going to arrive in Ghana as if you’re orphans. You will return to a hero’s welcome.”

He said returnees will receive a comprehensive support package, including financial assistance on arrival, transport to their destinations within Ghana, reintegration allowances, psychosocial support services, and placement on a special database for employment and business start-up opportunities.

Ablakwa said more than 800 Ghanaians have registered to return home and that the passenger screening process is underway for the second group to return.

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The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said late on Thursday it had deported seven Kenyan nationals for working without permits, and rejected US allegations that it was involved in leaking private information about American officials, saying the issues would be handled through diplomatic channels.

“The recent deportation of seven Kenyan nationals by the Department of Home Affairs was conducted in strict accordance with South African immigration law. These individuals were engaged in work without the necessary work permits. The government will not negotiate its sovereignty and the implementation of the rule of law,” DIRCO said in a statement.

The US State Department earlier this week condemned the brief detention of two US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) refugee officers during Tuesday’s operation and said their passport information had been publicly released, calling it harassment.

Said DIRCO: “Separately, we have noted an unsubstantiated allegation regarding the private information of US officials. South Africa treats all matters of data security with the utmost seriousness and operates under stringent legal and diplomatic protocols. We categorically reject any suggestion of state involvement in such actions.”

The Department of Home Affairs said on Wednesday the seven Kenyans had entered on tourist visas and were found working at a centre processing refugee applications for the United States, despite earlier visa applications for Kenyans to do the work having been denied. It said no US officials were arrested.

The dispute centres on a Trump administration initiative that prioritises Afrikaners for resettlement in the United States.

Trump has said Afrikaners are victims of racial discrimination and violence, claims the South African government has repeatedly denied. In May, the first group of 59 white South Africans arrived in the United States under the programme.

South Africa has opposed the initiative, saying allegations of discrimination are unfounded and that the white minority it targets does not meet the definition of refugees.

Reuters has reported that case processing in South Africa is handled by RSC Africa, a Kenya-based refugee support centre operated by Church World Service, and that Washington has sought clarification from Pretoria about interference with its refugee operations.

DIRCO said it would handle the dispute through official channels: “[W]e remain committed to principled and transparent diplomacy. Official channels have been opened with the United States government to seek clarity on this allegation and to reinforce that our bilateral engagements must be grounded in mutual respect and factual dialogue.”

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Seven Kenyan nationals were arrested during the operation on Tuesday while working illegally at the center, which processes applications by white South Africans who have been given priority for refugee status in the U.S. by the Trump administration after claims they are being persecuted by the Black-led government.

That claim over the treatment of members of South Africa’s Afrikaner white minority group has been widely rejected but has been central to the deterioration of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Africa’s most advanced economy since President Donald Trump returned to office.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the detained Kenyans were working at the site while in the country on tourist visas which did not allow them to work, and U.S. officials working with the “undocumented workers” at the center “raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol.”

It said no U.S. officials were arrested in the raid and it was not a diplomatic site.

South Africa’s Foreign Ministry has started “formal diplomatic engagements with both the United States and Kenya to resolve this matter,” the Home Affairs Ministry said.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told CNN that the U.S. was still gathering information on the raid but “interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable.” The U.S. government is “seeking immediate clarification from the South African government” and it expects “full cooperation and accountability,” Pigott said.

The U.S. Embassy in South Africa didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

The raid, which involved immigration and law enforcement officers, is bound to increase tensions between the two countries.

Trump has singled out South Africa for criticism for months on a range of issues, claiming that Afrikaners are being killed and having their land seized, and that South Africa is pursuing anti-white policies at home and an anti-American foreign policy abroad through its diplomatic relations with Palestinian authorities and Iran.

The U.S. boycotted last month’s Group of 20 world leaders summit in South Africa and Trump said it will exclude South Africa from the group when it hosts the annual summit in Florida next year. Trump also issued an executive order in February that said the U.S. would stop aid and assistance to South Africa over what it called its “egregious actions.”

South Africa’s government said the U.S. claims over the persecution of Afrikaners are based on misinformation and white South Africans don’t meet the criteria for refugee status because there is no persecution, although it wouldn’t stop anyone applying. Afrikaners are white South Africans descended from mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first came to the country in the 17th century.

The Trump administration announced in October it was dramatically cutting the annual quota for refugees allowed in the U.S. to 7,500 from a previous limit of 125,000 and white South Africans would be given most of the places. A first group of white South African refugees had already arrived in the U.S. under the new program for them in May. It’s not clear how many have been relocated since then.

The South African Home Affairs Ministry didn’t say who the Kenyans arrested at the refugee processing site worked for, but the U.S. government has contracted a Kenya-based company, RSC Africa, to process refugee applications by white South Africans, according to a statement last month by the U.S. Embassy in South Africa.

RSC Africa is operated by Church World Service, a U.S.-based nongovernment organization that offers humanitarian aid and refugee assistance across the world and works with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

The statement by South Africa’s Home Affairs Ministry said Kenyan nationals had previously been denied visas to travel to South Africa to work on the U.S. refugee program and the raid “showcases the commitment that South Africa shares with the United States to combating illegal immigration and visa abuse in all its forms.”

The seven Kenyan nationals were given deportation orders and banned from entering South Africa for a five-year period, South African authorities said.

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The government is working on more initiatives to enable easy access for tourists wanting to visit the country, according to Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille.

Speaking at the Execution Lab for the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan at Emperor’s Palace outside Johannesburg on Monday, De Lille described the plan as a historic and a bold collaboration between the government, private sector and other stakeholders.

It aims to unlock the full potential of the country’s tourism sector.

She said the priorities had already been identified and must be tackled in unison. Delegates needed to focus on action, innovation and measurable progress.

“We are here because we recognise the challenges in our sector. We know what our targets are for the next five years. But we are also here because we believe in solutions. As I have often said, we cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results,” the minister said.

The plan’s five priorities include ease of access, coordinated destination marketing, tourist safety and security, tourism product development and job creation.

“On ease of access, we are making real progress. Working with the Department of Home Affairs, the roll out of the electronic travel authorisation system is expected to begin next month.

“New initiatives in route development, air access and a new tour operators’ licensing system, which we are currently working on with the Department of Transport, are the potential game changers,” she said.

The minister told the meeting that South Africa must show the world that the country offered more than breathtaking oceans, mountains and wildlife.

Its heritage trails, vibrant townships and charming small towns were a unique experience that stood out in a crowded global marketplace, she said.

The minister said tourism was a pivotal player in the country’s economy. It was responsible for 1.6 million jobs and contributed significantly to the GDP.

She said the department’s ambitious target, according to the National Development Plan, was to have 15 million arrivals by 2030.

“This is achievable. That is why this plan is incorporated into the Department of Tourism’s annual performance plan and into the commitments I have made directly to the president,” De Lille said.

The minister called on the meeting to commit to growing tourism’s contribution to the economy by enabling South Africans to experience and enjoy their country, while at the same time welcoming more visitors by removing all barriers.

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Nearly three weeks following the devastating Eastern Cape floods, the death toll continues to rise. The provincial government has confirmed that 102 people have died.

It said on Monday that 96 bodies have been identified and handed over to their families. Six people are yet to be identified.

“Due to the passage of time, DNA tests may be required to positively identify bodies found decomposed thus implying that it may take longer to identify the deceased,” provincial government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said in a statement on Monday.

Rantjie said search and recovery efforts were ongoing.

“The South African Police Services (SAPS) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) helicopters have been deployed to support the ongoing search and recovery efforts and this coordinated aerial support aims to intensify the search for possible more victims including two children still missing.”

Mobile units from Home Affairs have also been sent out to help affected families replace important documents like IDs and certificates to ensure they can access services without leaving their temporary homes.

Health officials have joined in offering medical services at the shelters and nearby communities.

Similarly, the Department of Social Development, which is supported by private sector partners, is delivering psychosocial support to grieving families and schools impacted by the floods.

The Eastern Cape government continues to provide food, shelter and other basic services to families. They are mainly in care centres and lodges around Mthatha and Butterworth.

OR Tambo remains the hardest hit with 78 fatalities, Amathole 10, Alfred Nzo five, Joe Gqabi two, Sarah Baartman two, and Chris Hani five.

Among the deceased are 32 pupils. A total of 49 men and 53 women have died.

Only 56 victims have been buried.

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The death toll from the Eastern Cape floods has risen to 95, the provincial government confirmed on Monday.

It also announced that 86 of the recovered bodies have been identified and collected by families, while identification is still underway for the remaining victims.

Among the newly discovered bodies are two teenage boys who were found on Sunday afternoon. 

Search and recovery operations are ongoing, and they are now supported by a fourth team from the North West province, in collaboration with the SA National Defence Force.

Acting premier Mlungisi Mvoko acknowledged the efforts of both professionals and community members involved in the rescue and recovery operations, pledging to speed up support for those who were affected.

The government together with private partners like AVBOB, has mobilised burial support, including storage, funeral services and transport. 

So far, 26 flood victims have been buried with state assistance. Additional support includes grocery hampers from Interlink Express, R5000 in financial aid for each deceased learner from the Department of Education and emergency Home Affairs mobile offices helping displaced residents replace lost documents. Around 30 children have died.

However, the province is not out of danger. 

The South African Weather Service has issued a new warning, predicting strong and damaging winds across most of the Eastern Cape starting on Thursday. 

These winds are part of a powerful cold front moving in from the Western Cape and could worsen the already fragile situation in flood-hit communities like Mthatha.

“We fear these conditions will inflict more pain on an already leaking wound,” said Rudzani Malala from the SAWS during a media briefing on Monday.

With the weather expected to deteriorate further, residents are urged to stay alert and follow official warnings to protect lives and property.

The Red Cross has said that at least 3500 households have been affected in the Mthatha area, with many people now sheltering in community halls. NGOs warn that the number of people in need is likely to increase dramatically.

Last week, premier Oscar Mabuyane said at least 20 health facilities and more than 400 schools and 1400 classrooms were damaged, affecting tens of thousands of learners.

And the Gift of the Givers’ Ali Sablay has warned that many homes are still at risk of collapse.

Food has been contaminated, infrastructure damaged and people had to be moved to safer areas.

The government has put various measures in place to help victims and is working closely with private companies and civil society groups to be bring relief to the thousands of people impacted by the floods.

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The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has applauded the Home Affairs Department for conducting lifestyle audits to combat fraud and corruption.

“We welcome the 476 lifestyle audits concluded for DHA officials. This project must be extended to a wider employee population within the department to root out any corrupt and rogue elements within the department,” said committee chairperson Mosa Chabane.

He also urged the department to ensure adequate capacitation of its Counter-Corruption Unit to enhance efficiency.

As part of its attempt to clamp down on malfeasance, the committee called for interventions aimed at safeguarding junior officials from being tempted by syndicates to sell the departmental documents.

The audits found that lower-level employees were more likely to be highly indebted, which opened them up to temptation. However, these workers had since been vetted.

The committee has also welcomed a “noticeable increase” in dismissals of departmental officials who were found to have corruptly and fraudulently approved documents for undeserving individuals.

However, law enforcement agencies needed to expedite criminal investigations to ensure that people were not only dismissed, but face the full might of the law.

“The committee is steadfast that the DHA plays a critical homeland security role, and the selling of the departmental documents is unacceptable. These selfish officials have shown their lack of patriotism, which is treasonous. Action should be taken against any acts of criminality,” Chabane said.

The committee expressed its unhappiness with the Counter Corruption and Security Services only operating at 28% of its approved post quotient.

It said this was unacceptable and undermined the unit’s good work and potential to combat corruption and secure South Africa’s documents.

It urged the department to engage with National Treasury to find ways to further capacitate the service in line with the National Development Plan, which called for the development of a capable state that offered quality services to the people.

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The Employment and Labour Department has reiterated that businesses must hire South Africans following a sting operation that saw the arrest of illegal immigrants in KwZulu-Natal.

A tolal of 64 people, mostly from Lesotho, were apprehended the iSithembe industrial area of Mandeni.

They were arrested for violating labour laws and immigration regulations, together with their employer. 

The operation was led by Employment and Labour Minister Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya and Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza this week. It was aimed at cracking down on illegal foreign nationals and lawlessness in the country. 

Three sections of factories have been shut down and all nine companies raided were found to be breaking the law.

Sibiya emphasised the importance of compliance with South African laws, saying “available jobs should be prioritised for South Africans and those who have valid documents.” 

He also expressed concern about employers exploiting undocumented foreign nationals by paying them low wages.

Mlungisi Zondi, who is the chief inspector of the Employment and Labour Department, said employers had 14 days to comply with compliance notices and 60 days to comply with occupational health and safety prohibition notices, failing which they would face prosecution.

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