A 58-year-old laundromat owner is set to face charges in court after being accused of employing undocumented foreign nationals at her business.
The arrest was made by members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) from Westernburg, who acted on a tip-off. The operation, known as Kukula (Shanela), led to the arrest of the owner and eight female workers, aged between 29 and 49.
According to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the provincial police spokesperson, the police arrived at the laundromat on Friday night at approximately 11pm and caught the suspects in action.
They were washing hospital bedding sets and clothes for various public hospitals. Ledwaba stated that a group of women who exclusively worked night shifts failed to provide their documents to prove their legal status in the country, as well as their work permits.
The owner of the laundromat was summoned to the scene but was also unable to produce the necessary documents.
Consequently, all individuals involved were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act. The suspects are scheduled to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Major General Jan Scheepers, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo SAPS, commended the operational team members for their swift response to the tip-off and subsequent apprehension of the suspects. Ledwaba added that police investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
