Johannesburg – Authorities have arrested several Kenyans for working in South Africa without the proper visas.
The Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, revealed that the Kenyans entered South Africa on tourist visas before unlawfully taking up jobs.
“Yesterday, the Department of Home Affairs, in collaboration with other arms of law enforcement, executed a routine, lawful operation in Johannesburg targeted at suspected violations of South African immigration law,” said XXX
“The operation followed after intelligence reports indicated that a number of Kenyan nationals had recently entered South Africa on tourist visas and had illegally taken up work at a centre processing the applications of so-called ‘refugees’ to the United States,” said spokesperson Carli Van Wyk.
“This was despite the fact that earlier visa applications for Kenyan nationals to perform this work had been lawfully declined by the Department.”
Van Wyk said during the operation, seven Kenyan nationals were discovered engaging in work despite only being in possession of tourist visas, in clear violation of their conditions of entry into the country.
“They were arrested and issued with deportation orders, and will be prohibited from entering South Africa again for a five-year period,” stated Van Wyk.
“The operation was carried out according to the same procedures that has seen Home Affairs dramatically intensify deportations over the past 18 months, as the South African government diligently works to turn around the long-standing abuse of our immigration and visa system.
“No US officials were 1 arrested in the process, the operation was not conducted at a diplomatic site, and no members of the public or prospective ‘refugees’ were harassed.”
Van Wyk said the operation reinforces Home Affairs’ commitment to enforcing the rule of law without fear or favour, as no person or entity is above these laws.
“It also showcases the commitment that South Africa shares with the United States to combating illegal immigration and visa abuse in all its forms,” she said.
“The presence of foreign officials apparently coordinating with undocumented workers naturally raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol.
“The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has initiated formal diplomatic engagements with both the United States and Kenya to resolve this matter.”
Meanwhile, CNN reports that the South African government briefly held, then released, two US government employees on assignment in South Africa as part of the Trump administration’s bid to admit Afrikaners to the United States.
President Donald Trump has justified his decision to resettle Afrikaners in the US by citing false claims that “a genocide is taking place” in South Africa.
“White farmers are being brutally killed and their land confiscated,” claims Trump.
South African authorities have rejected these claims.
