Home Affairs Says Raid on US Refugee Centre "Routine", "Lawful"

The Department of Home Affairs says a raid on a United States (US) refugee processing facility in Johannesburg on Tuesday was “routine” and “lawful”, and linked to suspected violations of South Africa’s immigration laws.

In a statement, the department said seven Kenyans working at the centre were arrested for allegedly working illegally. “(S)even 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,” the department said. It added that work visas for the Kenyans had previously been denied.

Home Affairs also said no US officials were arrested and that the raid had not taken place at a diplomatic site. The statement concluded, “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 combat illegal immigration and visa abuse in all its forms.

“The presence of foreign officials apparently co-ordinating with undocumented workers naturally raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol. The Department of International Relations and Co-operation has initiated formal diplomatic engagements with both the United States and Kenya to resolve this matter.”

American officials responded strongly. Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, said in a statement, “The Trump Administration has consistently raised concerns about the treatment of Afrikaners in South Africa, including allegations of racial targeting, violence, and the failure of authorities to adequately protect certain communities. We are seeking immediate clarification from the South African government and expect full co-operation and accountability.”

The statement added, “We’ll have more to say once all the facts are confirmed, but the Trump Administration will always stand up for US interests, US personnel, and the rule of law. Interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable.”

The raid comes after months of tension between Washington and Pretoria. The US claims that minorities, particularly white Afrikaners, face persecution. Pretoria has strongly rejected these claims.

It follows comments by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula at the party’s National General Council last week. He said, “Our stance is very clear as the ANC. We are a disciplined force of the left. We are anti-imperialist, and we defend our sovereignty and we advance multilateralism. We are against unilateralism. We are advancing a rules-based system for the world. We are for … reform in institutional mechanisms like the United Nations.

“[T]he United States of America, as a world policeman, we are not for that. We are for multipolarism in the world.

“In as far as the aggression we are facing by the United States of America, in particular the Trump administration, we will mobilise and fight and defend our sovereignty as a country.”

In early December, International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola responded to remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about South Africa not being invited to the next G20 summit, due to be held in Florida next year. Lamola said, “(T)he world is watching. It is growing weary of double standards. It is tired of lectures on democracy from those who seem to have forgotten that democracy, at its best, must listen as much as it speaks. We do not seek your approval for our path. Our path is our own, chosen by our people and guided by our sovereign laws.”

The Common Sense understands there is likely to be a severe rebuke from Washington over Tuesday’s raid.