This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
On August 8, 2019, a massive crackdown on foreign nationals took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, with at least 600 people being arrested by police.
According to reports, the operation, known as O Kae Molao, targeted various buildings in the city, where police confiscated firearms and a large consignment of counterfeit goods.
David Makhura, the premier of the Gauteng province, which surrounds Johannesburg, tweeted that the crackdown was part of a clean-up operation.
He expressed satisfaction with the number of suspects arrested, stating that the main issue was with people driving taxis without licenses, which were not supposed to be on the roads.
The operation has sparked concerns on social media that it might encourage xenophobia, with some people raising concerns about the treatment of foreign nationals.
