An undocumented foreign national jumped off a bridge in Johannesburg on New Year’s Eve while fleeing police during a festive season safety operation.
The incident occurred during Operation Shanela II in Hillbrow and Johannesburg Central. According to Gauteng deputy provincial commissioner Major General Fred Kekana, the man was stopped at a roadblock while riding a motorbike. When police checked his documents, he ran and jumped over the bridge wall onto the lower level.
[WATCH] An undocumented foreign national jumped off a bridge after he was stopped by the police during a roadblock. It’s alleged that the individual was being checked for documentation when he outran the police to jump off the bridge. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/JYvC1m0UrC
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 31, 2025
Kekana said the man had no passport, driver’s license, or documentation, and the motorbike is being checked for possible theft. Police pursued the individual and believe he may have been injured but continued running.
The operation was part of broader security efforts during the holidays. In a separate incident earlier in the week, the South African National Defence Force intercepted over 1,100 undocumented Zimbabwean nationals attempting to cross illegally at the Groblersbridge Border Post in Limpopo. One soldier was wounded during that operation but received treatment.