South Africa has repatriated 2,745 foreign nationals in the week following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to intensify efforts against illegal immigration, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced on Sunday, June 14.
The move comes amid growing public concern over undocumented migration in the country, which continues to attract workers from across Africa despite an unemployment internal rate exceeding 30%.
Recent anti-immigration protests in parts of South Africa have seen demonstrators demand that undocumented foreigners leave by 30 June. The developments have prompted citizens of Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to take advantage of voluntary repatriation programmes organized by their respective Governments. Schreiber said most of those repatriated were living in South Africa illegally and noted that the number could continue to rise.
Among those affected are thousands of Malawian nationals, with about 7,000 reportedly sheltering in an open field in Durban. On Sunday, eight buses arranged by the Malawian Government began transporting citizens home, while South Africa provided 10 additional buses to support the operation. Around 560 people, including approximately 200 children, were repatriated on the first day.
The South African government has also reiterated that it does not operate refugee camps and has no plans to establish any temporary facilities.
Last week, President Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns over illegal immigration but warned that authorities would not tolerate individuals taking the law into their own hands.
According to South Africa’s statistics Agency, more than three million foreign nationals live in the country, representing about 5.1 per cent of the population.