Results of Operation Fiela-reclaim noted
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs notes the various raids undertaken under the banner of Operation Fiela-Reclaim (Executive intervention) which is an operation to rid the country of illegal weapons, drug dens as well as other illegal activities. The Committee further notes the various arrests made as a result of this operation.
The Committee will always support any initiative that is aimed at ensuring respect for the rule of law. It is for this reason that the Committee finds it unfortunate that there are suggestions that this operation is targeting foreign nationals.
The Committee notes and appreciates that up to 423 suspects wanted in connection with various crimes have been traced, arrest of two people for negligent handling of firearms, confiscation of illegal items such as dagga, stolen property, as well as arrest of undocumented migrants. The number of transgressions highlighted as reasons behind the arrests point to the fact that this operation is a necessity to deal with lawlessness.
South Africa’s democratic order is based on the rule of law, and as such the Committee welcomes the South Gauteng High Court ruling giving the Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) access to arrested foreign nationals. Despite this, the Committee maintains that all undocumented foreign nationals must approach the Department of Home Affairs to regularise their stay within the country.
The Committee reiterates its support for Operation Fiela-Reclaim and any other initiative that is aimed at dealing with elements of criminality and general lawlessness within the country.
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