OPERATION VALA UMGODI NETS 36 SUSPECTS FOR VARIOUS CRIMES IN NELSPRUIT
Authorities have confirmed that police investigators are working closely with the Department of Home Affairs to verify the immigration status of those arrested.
EZOMPHAKATHI
Nelspruit, 16 March 2025 – The intensified efforts of Operation Vala Umgodi continue to yield positive results, with 36 suspects apprehended in a disruptive operation conducted at Brondal informal settlement near Nelspruit on 15 March 2025.
Law enforcement officials, including members from combat and proactive policing units, arrested 36 individuals aged between 20 and 77. Among them, 34 are foreign nationals found without valid documentation to be in South Africa and were consequently charged with contravention of the Immigration Act. Some suspects also face additional charges, including fraud, possession of illicit liquor, and possession of dagga.
Authorities have confirmed that police investigators are working closely with the Department of Home Affairs to verify the immigration status of those arrested.
During the operation, officers seized nine fraudulent South African Identity Documents and passports, illicit liquor, and approximately 1.905 kg of dagga with an estimated street value of R5,000.
The arrested suspects are expected to appear at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 17 March 2025.
Major General (Dr.) Zeph Mkhwanazi, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, commended the operation's success and expressed satisfaction with the ongoing efforts to combat crime. He encouraged law enforcement members to maintain their dedication in ensuring safer communities.
Operation Vala Umgodi remains a critical initiative in tackling crime and addressing illegal activities in the province.