Latest news with #OperationNewBroom
The South African
4 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
Operation New Broom sweeps clean for Home Affairs
At its heart, Operation New Broom at Home Affairs is a technology-driven initiative, insists Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber. However, whether you consider it an old-school issue, illegal immigrants in South Africa all face the same fate. Arrest, conviction and deportation and prohibition from reentering the country. Launched last week, the technology powering Operation New Broom is biometric data. Through digital ID photos and fingerprints, biometric data will verify any residents' immigration status, thereby eliminating the risk of fraudulent documents (like the old green mamba ID booklet). Operation New Broom is yet another example of Dr. Leon Schreiber making his mark in office at such a young age. Image: File Moreover, the first campaign of Operation New Broom has already taken place in Cape Town's District 6, before becoming a nationwide operation. Operation New Broom saw the arrest of 25 suspects for occupying land meant for victims of forced removals. Home Affairs Minister Dr. Schreiber says Operation New Broom tackles an old-time issue with the latest technology. 'As with everything we do, Operation New Broom is guided by our commitment to the rule of law. It is this commitment that both motivates us to do more to combat illegality, and to uphold due process and legal compliance. The benefits of our commitment to digital transformation are being felt across all areas of Home Affairs' mandate, including through the strides made by the Border Management Authority (BMA),' Schreiber said Operation New Broom will be ramped-up to run countrywide. Image: File Earlier in the year, the BMA unveiled a new range of surveillance technology to enhance its efforts. These included 40 body-worn cameras and a set of state-of-the-art drones to monitor border operations. The cameras allow operators in control rooms to observer live footage from all BMA officers. Furthermore, the minister encouraged anyone living illegally in the country to deport themselves. 'Voluntarily deport yourself now, before we arrest and prohibit you from reentering or obtaining legal status in South Africa in the future,' said Schreiber. There was no word on where Operation New Broom will sweep up next, but illegal immigrants have been warned. They will face no mercy from the authorities … Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
95 illegal immigrants arrested during Home Affairs raid at Plastic View
A total of 95 illegal immigrants were detained at the Plastic View informal settlement in the east of Pretoria during a large-scale operation led by the Department of Home Affairs in partnership with various law enforcement agencies. Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk confirmed that the arrests took place early on Friday morning at about 03:00. The operation, which targeted the sprawling Plastic View squatter camp, forms part of the newly launched initiative dubbed 'Operation New Broom'. This technology-driven campaign aims to identify, arrest, convict, and deport undocumented foreign nationals occupying public spaces unlawfully. Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber confirmed that Operation New Broom was in full swing at the Plastic View informal settlement, where nearby residents have long called for stricter enforcement of immigration laws. 'The arrests are ongoing in this operation, which marks a significant step toward restoring the rule of law,' said Schreiber. Schreiber described the involvement of law enforcement agencies critical, as Home Affairs officials are unarmed and depend heavily on police support for such operations. Describing the initiative as a fresh approach to a longstanding issue, Schreiber said, 'Operation New Broom addresses an old problem with renewed energy and advanced technology, particularly in urban areas across the country'. He said in Plastic View, biometric technology was used to verify the immigration status of individuals on the spot. 'This method allows officials to detect fraudulent documents and build stronger legal cases for prosecution and deportation,' he said. 'Our goal with this operation is clear to arrest, convict, and deport illegal immigrants occupying public spaces,' he stated. Schreiber emphasised that the initiative is rooted in a firm commitment to the rule of law. 'This principle drives us to not only act decisively against illegal activity but also ensure that every step we take upholds due process and legal standards,' he said. He added that the benefits of the department's digital transformation efforts are becoming evident across all its functions. 'Our message to those residing in the country illegally is simple: voluntarily leave now or face arrest and future bans from entering or gaining legal status in South Africa,' Schreiber warned. The DA in Tshwane welcomed the arrests. DA caucus leader Cilliers Brink said they now call on Tshwane to remove illegal structures of the arrested culprits to avoid reoccupation. 'The DA in the Tshwane metro welcomes the immigration enforcement operation conducted by the Department of Home Affairs in Plastic View this morning.' Brink said immigration authorities arrested several Plastic View residents for deportation, and it is now up to the Tshwane metro to remove unoccupied illegal structures. 'If the metro fails to take this step, the land will simply be occupied once again.' Brink said he met with Schreiber last year, and committed to work with Tshwane to ensure that immigration laws are enforced. 'The non-enforcement of these laws over many years has placed a considerable burden on local authorities, especially when land is unlawfully occupied by undocumented foreign nationals.' Brink expressed his gratitude to Minister Schreiber for his drive to enforce South Africa's immigration laws, and call on Tshwane to finish the work to deter reoccupation. Since early this morning, 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 has been out in force in Pretoria East, where residents have long pleaded for immigration law enforcement in Plastic View and Cemetery View. Arrests continue in this ongoing operation. Rebuilding the rule of law! 🇿🇦 — Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) May 23, 2025 Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Home Affairs targets illegal immigrants using new technology
The Department of Home Affairs has launched a new nationwide campaign, Operation New Broom, aimed at removing illegal immigrants from public spaces using advanced biometric technology. Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber led the initiative's first raid in District 6, where 25 people were arrested for occupying land earmarked for restitution. Operation New Broom is being rolled out continuously across urban centres in South Africa. Furthermore, the initiative relies on biometric verification to confirm the immigration status of suspects, drastically reducing the use of fraudulent documents and strengthening legal proceedings. According to the Department, this technology-driven approach ensures that due process is upheld. 'As with everything else we do, Operation New Broom is guided by our commitment to the rule of law,' said Schreiber. 'This commitment motivates us to do more to combat illegality, and to uphold due process and legal compliance in the process.' Moreover, the operation's debut in District 6 holds symbolic weight. The 25 individuals detained reportedly lived on land designated for restitution to families displaced decades ago. Additionally, Minister Schreiber issued a stern warning to those staying in South Africa without documentation: 'Our message to anyone who is in the country illegally is clear: voluntarily deport yourself now, before we arrest and prohibit you from entering or obtaining legal status in South Africa in future.' In addition, Operation New Broom forms part of the broader digital transformation within the Department of Home Affairs. Schreiber also pointed to recent successes by the Border Management Authority as proof that technology integration is improving national immigration controls both at border posts and inland. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Home Affairs unveils 'Operation New Broom' to combat illegal immigration
The Department of Home Affairs has launched 'Operation New Broom' to tackle illegal immigration. Image: Independent Newspaper Archives In a bid to intensify efforts against illegal immigration, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber on Thursday launched Operation New Broom, a nationwide technology-driven initiative aimed at arresting, convicting and deporting undocumented immigrants occupying public spaces. The department said during the first sweep of the operation, 25 undocumented individuals were arrested while occupying land illegally. 'As with everything else we do, Operation New Broom is guided by our commitment to the rule of law,' said Minister Schreiber at the launch. 'It is this commitment that both motivates us to do more to combat illegality and to uphold due process and legal compliance in the process.' He said the operation will be rolled out in urban areas across the country. It focuses on the use of biometric verification technology to detect fraudulent documentation and confirm the immigration status of suspects. Officials say this innovation will help build stronger legal cases and enhance the efficiency of deportation processes. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Home Affairs officials involved in the operation explained that biometric checks, including fingerprint and facial recognition scans, will be used on-site during raids. This aims to reduce reliance on paper-based documentation, which is often forged or tampered with by individuals seeking to evade immigration laws. The Minister noted that Operation New Broom is part of a broader digital transformation within the Department of Home Affairs and its associated entities, such as the Border Management Authority. 'The benefits of our commitment to digital transformation are being felt across all areas of Home Affairs' mandate, including through the strides made by the Border Management Authority at the borders and by Home Affairs inland,' he said. Schreiber also issued a stern warning to individuals residing in South Africa without legal documentation: 'Our message to anyone who is in the country illegally is clear: voluntarily deport yourself now, before we arrest and prohibit you from entering or obtaining legal status in South Africa in future.'
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Home Affairs launches Operation New Broom to tackle illegal immigration
Minister Leon Schreiber says illegal immigrants should deport themselves or risk being arrested and prohibited from entering the country in future. Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has launched a new technology-driven initiative to arrest, convict and deport illegal immigrants occupying public spaces. Operation New Broom, launched on Wednesday, uses biometric technology to verify suspects' immigration status, eliminating the risk of fraudulent documents and building stronger legal cases. Ongoing nationwide campaign Schreiber said the first operation of what will be an ongoing nationwide campaign took place in District 6 in Cape Town. During the operation, 25 suspects were arrested for occupying land meant for restitution to the victims of forced removals. The initiative, Schreiber said, tackles an old issue with new energy and technology in urban areas across the country. 'As with everything else we do, Operation New Broom is guided by our commitment to the rule of law. 'It is this commitment that both motivates us to do more to combat illegality, and to uphold due process and legal compliance in the process,' Schreiber said. ALSO READ: Big changes coming for ID, passport applications and birth registrations – Home Affairs Deport yourself 'The benefits of our commitment to digital transformation are being felt across all areas of Home Affairs' mandate, including through the strides made by the Border Management Authority at the borders and by Home Affairs inland,' he added. Schreiber said through this initiative, the department is sending a clear message to anyone who is residing in South Africa illegally: 'Voluntarily deport yourself now, before we arrest and prohibit you from entering or obtaining legal status in South Africa in future.' New surveillance technology In April, the department unveiled the Border Management Authority's (BMA) new range of surveillance technology to enhance security. This included 40 body-worn cameras and a set of drones to monitor border operations. The cameras were deployed at BMA offices, OR Tambo International Airport, and the Ficksburg and Maseru border posts to allow control room observers to view live footage from the BMA officers. NOW READ: Home Affairs facial recognition technology ready for rollout – Who has access?
