S. Africa cracks down on illegal immigrants

South African law enforcement agencies launched a crackdown on illegal immigrants on Thursday, rounding up nearly 200 undocumented foreigners.

In the crackdown that targeted the Thembelihle informal settlement near Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, a total of 212 people were arrested, police said.

Of those arrested, 198 were believed to be illegal immigrants, Police Lieutenant Kay Makhubela said.

He said the others faced numerous charges, including possession of drugs, robberies, hijackings or murders.

The crackdown was a joint operation by soldiers, police officers, metro police and home affairs officials, according to Makhbela.

The raid followed recent xenophobic attacks that had hit parts of the country, leaving seven dead, thousands of foreigners displaced and hundreds of foreign-owned shops looted.

The xenophobic attacks were sparked by complaints among local South Africans about foreigners, many of them illegal, who are blamed for taking up employment, engaging in illegal business and even committing crimes.

But Makhubela said Thursday's raid was not in response to xenophobic attacks but was conducted because police received information about criminal activities in the area.

Illegal immigration is a headache for South Africa. According to the latest figures provided by the Department of Home Affairs, more than 330,000 foreigners have overstayed in the country since 2010. Endi