A 48-year-old farm owner and 15 undocumented foreign nationals are expected to appear in the Lenyenye Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after being arrested during a police compliance operation at a farm in Trichardsdal, Limpopo.
According to police, members of Maake SAPS conducted a compliance inspection at the farm on Monday, June 29, 2026, where they found several employees on duty.
During the operation, officers requested identity and immigration documents after discovering that some of the workers were not South African citizens.
Police said 12 employees were unable to produce the required documentation and were subsequently confirmed to be undocumented foreign nationals.
The workers were arrested at the scene along with the farm owner, who is facing charges of allegedly harbouring and employing illegal immigrants.
Police spokesperson Hlulani Mashaba said they later apprehended three additional undocumented foreign nationals who were also found working on the farm, bringing the total number of arrests to 16.
“The police were conducting compliance duties when they entered a local farm and found a number of employees on duty,” Mashaba said.
“Upon inspection, police requested identities and immigration documentation after it was discovered that some of the employees were not South African citizens.”
The group comprises six women aged between 32 and 43 and nine men aged between 23 and 49. All 15 workers are facing charges related to contravention of the Immigration Act.
Police confirmed that the farm owner “faces charges of harbouring and employing illegal immigrants”.
The arrests form part of ongoing compliance and immigration enforcement operations aimed at identifying undocumented foreign nationals and ensuring employers comply with South Africa’s immigration laws.
All 16 accused were scheduled to make their first court appearance in the Lenyenye Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
IOL News
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za
