This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.
On August 7, 2019, a massive crackdown on foreign nationals in South Africa left at least 600 people in police custody, according to reports from the country's media outlets.
Police conducted a targeted search operation in Johannesburg, the main city of the Gauteng province, confiscating firearms and a large consignment of counterfeit goods from various buildings.
David Makhura, the premier of Gauteng, tweeted that the operation was part of a broader clean-up effort, citing concerns over unlicensed taxis and other illicit activities.
"The main issue has been with people who are driving taxis without licences and these taxis are not supposed to be on our roads," Makhura was quoted as saying by the Citizen newspaper.
The operation, known as O Kae Molao, has sparked concerns on social media that it may encourage xenophobia, with some people expressing worries about the treatment of foreign nationals.
