Cape Town: Cabinet has welcomed the launch of Operation New Broom, the latest technology-driven initiative by the Department of Home Affairs to combat illegal immigration. Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Leon Schreiber, launched the initiative last week.

According to South African Government News Agency, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni addressed the media in Cape Town on Thursday, stating that this initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to fighting crime and maintaining the rule of law. Ntshavheni explained that the initiative employs technology to arrest, convict, and deport illegal immigrants from the country.

Ntshavheni highlighted that in its first phase, the operation has led to the arrest of 25 suspects who occupied land illegally in District 6, Cape Town. The initiative uses biometric technology to verify the immigration status of suspects, reducing the risk of fraudulent documents and facilitating quicker court proceedings.

The first operation, which is part of an ongoing nationwide campaign, occurred in District 6 in Cape Town on 21 May 2025. Minister Schreiber emphasized that the department’s commitment to digital transformation is evident across all areas of Home Affairs’ mandate, including the advancements made by the Border Management Authority (BMA) at the borders and inland.

“As with everything else we do, Operation New Broom is guided by our commitment to the rule of law. It is this commitment that both motivates us to do more to combat illegality and to uphold due process and legal compliance in the process,” Schreiber stated at the time.