Undocumented Man's Desperate Leap from Johannesburg Bridge to Evade Police
Johannesburg – In a dramatic turn of events on New Year's Eve, an undocumented foreign national in Johannesburg resorted to extreme measures to avoid arrest, leaping from a high bridge while attempting to evade authorities.
The incident unfolded as the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement agencies conducted a multidisciplinary integrated Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela II in Hillbrow and Johannesburg Central. The operation was designed to heighten police visibility and ensure the safety of Gauteng residents as they celebrated the arrival of the new year.
According to reports, the undocumented man jumped off the M1 bridge after being stopped at a roadblock. It is alleged that he was being checked for documentation when he suddenly fled from the police, making the daring jump.
Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana recounted the incident with a hint of incredulity, stating that the foreign national simply "ran away."
“He was driving a motorbike, which we are busy checking, and he doesn’t have documents; he’s undocumented. He jumped over to the other side. He just slipped out and decided to jump over the wall,” Kekana explained.
[WATCH] An undocumented foreign national jumped off a bridge after he was stopped by the police during a roadblock. It's alleged that the individual was being checked for documentation when he outran the police to jump off the bridge. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/JYvC1m0UrC
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 31, 2025
Authorities are now investigating whether the motorbike driven by the man was stolen. "We will get him. He has no passport, no driver’s licence, nothing," Kekana asserted. "The team went downstairs, and they’ll get him. I think he might be injured too, although he kept on running.”
This incident comes amid increased efforts by law enforcement to manage the influx of undocumented foreign nationals into South Africa.
In a separate incident, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) recently intercepted over a thousand undocumented foreign nationals attempting to enter the country illegally. The interception of 1,174 Zimbabwean nationals occurred at the Groblersbridge Border Post, outside Lephalale in Limpopo, on 26 December 2025.
SANDF spokesperson Captain Moses Semono highlighted the unprecedented scale of the influx during the festive season. “On 26 December 2025, soldiers intercepted and arrested 1 174 undocumented persons from Zimbabwe attempting to enter South Africa through illegal border crossings," Semono stated. "This marks the first time our members have had to manage such a massive influx during this period of the festive season.”
During the interception at Groblersbridge Border Post, a SANDF member sustained injuries after being attacked by an aggressive undocumented foreign national. Semono confirmed that the aggressor was subdued and the injured member received on-site medical treatment.
The incident involving the undocumented man jumping from the bridge and the large-scale interception at the border underscore the challenges faced by South African authorities in managing undocumented immigration, particularly during peak travel periods. The police are continuing their search for the man who jumped from the bridge, while investigations into the motorbike and his immigration status are ongoing.
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