Polokwane police detained seven foreign nationals in the central business district after a tip-off from a local delivery drivers' group and a political organisation, the Citizen reported. The arrests on the day of the operation heightened already strained relations in the city's bike and food delivery sector, according to the reporting.
What the police found
According to the Citizen, police confirmed details about the seven people taken into custody:
- One had an expired passport dating from 2024 but was still working;
- Four had no work permits;
- One had no driver’s licence;
- One was in the country illegally after his permit had expired;
- The remaining person was arrested on other charges.
The newspaper reported that most of those detained were later released on warning and instructed to stop working.
Who raised the alarm
The operation was launched after a tip-off from Polokwane Delivery Drivers and a political party called Defenders of the People, the Citizen said. Polokwane Delivery Drivers provided locations in the CBD where they alleged foreign nationals were operating without valid driver’s licences, work permits or identification.
“How do they still have delivery accounts when it is known that you are not authorised to operate without permits?” Polokwane Delivery Drivers chairperson Ralph Ramello told the Citizen, according to the report.
Context — national deadline and local effects
The operation comes after a national deadline of 30 June for undocumented migrants to leave the country, an initiative that has prompted smaller demonstrations and enforcement actions in multiple towns, the Citizen said. The paper noted that the party March and March has led similar operations elsewhere.
Locally, the issue has sharpened tensions between citizen and foreign delivery drivers. The Polokwane Observer obtained recordings of verbal altercations between citizen drivers and foreign nationals, the Observer reported. In those recordings, foreign nationals accused the citizen drivers of victimisation while the latter demanded compliance with legal documentation requirements.
Immediate consequences and community concerns
Restaurant owners, delivery platforms and drivers in Polokwane have been the focus of demands from citizen groups for ID checks and compliance with labour and immigration rules, the Citizen reported. Polokwane Delivery Drivers said their intervention followed months of unanswered letters to restaurants and delivery outlets about alleged fake accounts and unauthorised operators.
At the same time, the reporting indicates competing concerns in the community: some residents and business owners worry about the legality and safety of unlicensed drivers, while advocates for migrants have warned against actions that could lead to intimidation or unlawfully targeted enforcement. The available coverage does not provide comment from immigration authorities or the delivery companies on the matter.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Total detained | 7 |
| Expired passport | 1 |
| No work permit | 4 |
| No driver’s licence | 1 |
| In country illegally (permit expired) | 1 |
What residents should know
Residents who use delivery services or employ drivers should take care to confirm the identity and credentials of couriers when possible. The reporting from the Citizen and the Polokwane Observer indicates the dispute is not only about paperwork but also about competition for work and community relations in the CBD.
At present, no further details were provided in the referenced reports about ongoing police or immigration investigations, or any follow-up actions by delivery platforms and restaurants. The newspapers also did not quote representatives from SAPS or immigration services in Polokwane in the items cited.
As the situation develops, community leaders, business owners and municipal authorities in Polokwane are likely to face pressure to balance enforcement of immigration and labour laws with protecting vulnerable workers and maintaining order in the city’s growing food-delivery economy, the Citizen's reporting suggests.
