KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has admitted that policing undocumented immigrants remains a major challenge in South Africa.
In an exclusive interview with SABC News, Mkhwanazi explained that prosecuting undocumented foreigners is difficult because many claim to have pending asylum applications with the Department of Home Affairs.
He acknowledged growing public frustration over crimes allegedly involving illegal immigrants but said legal loopholes hinder law enforcement efforts.
“Our biggest issue is that when we arrest undocumented individuals, they often produce proof of an asylum application in court,” Mkhwanazi said. “Their lawyers argue they’re awaiting Home Affairs processing, so cases get dropped. We arrest them again, and the cycle repeats.”
The police chief’s comments come amid ongoing debates about immigration enforcement and its impact on crime statistics in South Africa.