Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni has revealed that more than 127 illegal immigrants have been arrested at roadblocks across the province on New Year’s Eve. 

This comes as New Year’s Eve celebrations rang in the new year across Gauteng, with reports that some crime elements remained under control due to visible and effective policing by the province’s law enforcement agencies, whose presence was felt across major city hotspots.

Without any major crime incidents in places such as Hillbrow and other crime hotspots, MMC for Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, welcomed the New Year with a firm commitment to strengthening safety, enforcing the rule of law, and protecting lives and property across the city.

“As we enter 2026, our focus remains on decisive enforcement, accountable governance, and collaborative partnerships to ensure a safer, more orderly city for all residents and visitors,” he said.

During Wednesday night’s operations, Mthombeni, together with SAPS Deputy National Commissioner for Policing Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili and Johannesburg Metro Police Chief Patrick Jaca, highlighted the crucial role of police visibility in creating a safe environment for residents.

In a statement detailing the night’s operations, he noted a remarkable decrease in drinking and driving incidents, with only two arrests recorded – a stark contrast to the more than 26,000 arrests made nationwide since October under the campaign’s auspices.

“Our operation, which began on Tuesday, has resulted in the arrest of more than 900 suspects involved in gender-based violence. With the roadblocks, we managed to arrest 127 illegal immigrants, two of whom had asylum seeker documents that were fraudulently acquired,” Mthombeni reported.

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“The ongoing success of the initiative has been attributed to the community’s active participation in the campaign against drinking and driving.”

Mthombeni indicated that this was due to residents having heeded the police’s warnings and measures.

As fireworks lit up the sky, marking the transition into 2026, police units stationed across the province ensured that law and order prevailed amid the excitement.

On Thursday, in keeping up with tight law enforcement operations to curb lawlessness,  Mthombeni, together with the Acting Mayor of Ekurhuleni City, Ald Jongizizwe Dlabathi, visited one of the roadblocks on the M2 Highway in Germiston, where multiple agencies collaborated to enforce road compliance and curb crime.

Members from SAPS, National Traffic Police, Gauteng Traffic Police, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, and other stakeholders participated vigorously in inspections for contraband, firearms, drugs, and stolen goods.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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