Joburg MTN Butchery Managers Arrested As Undocumented Workers Found Hiding On Fridges

The manager and HR manager of MTN Butchery have been arrested after law enforcement officials allegedly discovered undocumented foreign nationals working at the store during a raid in the Johannesburg CBD.

Some of the workers were reportedly found hiding on top of fridges as officers searched the premises during a large-scale compliance operation led by the City of Johannesburg.

Undocumented Workers Found During Johannesburg CBD Raid

Dada Morero led the operation on Tuesday alongside Members of the Mayoral Committee and city officials. The enforcement action targeted illegal structures, bylaw violations and immigration-related offences in areas including Small Street and Marble Towers.

Chaos reportedly broke out at the butchery near the MTN taxi rank on Plein and Klein streets when officers entered the premises. Several workers believed to be undocumented immigrants attempted to hide while authorities conducted inspections.

Officials later removed individuals who had allegedly hidden on top of refrigerators inside the store.

JMPD Confirms Arrests At MTN Butchery

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Xolani Fihla confirmed that five undocumented foreign nationals were arrested during the operation.

“We can confirm that this morning the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) together with Home Affairs immigration officials made several arrests for contravention of the Immigration Act,” Fihla said.

“Five undocumented foreign nationals were arrested at MTN Butchery on Plein and Klein streets next to the MTN taxi rank.

“A further two individuals were also arrested, bringing the total to seven. Those two were the manager and the HR manager of the store and they are being charged with harbouring undocumented foreign nationals.”

Fihla added that six more people were arrested at another location earlier in the day for immigration-related offences.

City Of Johannesburg Intensifies CBD Compliance Operations

Tuesday’s operation also involved disconnecting illegal electricity and water connections, removing abandoned vehicles and taking down illegal signage. Several businesses in the area remained closed while metro police continued patrols.

The operation formed part of an ongoing campaign by the city to tackle illegal trading, unlawful structures and safety concerns in the inner city. Last week, officials demolished illegal shacks and removed traders operating unlawfully in parts of the CBD.

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At Marble Towers, officials also identified several alleged bylaw violations. Morero said the building owed the city approximately R14 million in unpaid municipal bills.

“We have established that the building owes us R14 million for water, electricity, rates and taxes. We are acting accordingly,” Morero said.

The city is also opposing an urgent court application aimed at stopping the demolition of illegal structures linked to the site. The matter was postponed to Wednesday in the Johannesburg High Court.