Based on the SA Nationwide Defence Power’s (SANDF’s) Joint Operations Division, troopers on Operation Corona stopped 2 733 illegals from getting into South Africa final month.
As many as 2 422 undocumented Zimbabweans had been intercepted by SA Military troopers alongside the 230 km border between the international locations.
One other 199 Basotho had been intercepted alongside the Free State/Lesotho border, whereas smaller numbers got here from Mozambique (68), Botswana (38) and Eswatini/Mozambique (6).
Zimbabweans additionally accounted for a lot of the contraband seized, with troopers confiscating R5.2 million price of products in Limpopo.
These included cigarettes, dagga, liquor, clothes, footwear, and prescription drugs. Mozambican travellers making an attempt entry in Mpumalanga had been answerable for one other R1.9 million in confiscations, taking the December whole to R7.45 million.
No illegals from Namibia
Based on the SANDF, no unlawful crossings or seizures had been reported alongside the Japanese Cape/Lesotho and Northern Cape/Namibia borders throughout December.
South African Military troopers additionally prevented autos valued at R3.2 million from leaving South Africa illegally and detained 22 suspects needed by police.
Additional military seizures
Livestock seizures had been additionally a part of the SANDF’s December 2025 border patrol operations.
Animals from landlocked Lesotho illegally grazing on South African pastures had been impounded. This included goats and sheep price R7 200, and cattle valued at R2.7 million.
Drug seizures by SA Military troopers totalled R4 million in December, with R2.2 million recovered in Limpopo and R1.3 million in KwaZulu-Natal.
Confiscating explosives
Border patrols continued into January 2026, with notable explosives busts close to the Beitbridge port of entry.
On 2 January, three people deserted baggage containing Superpower 90 explosives valued at R82 300.
On 9 January, one other two males dropped baggage which contained blasting cartridges, fuses, and detonator cables valued at R131 450. The explosives are believed to be meant for unlawful mining, ATM bombings and cash-in-transit heists.
December additionally noticed a tragic incident when two Army Police members died on 25 December throughout a routine patrol close to the Mozambique border after their car was swept away by a flooded river.
