South Africa is seeking reimbursement from Nigeria, Malawi and Ethiopia for nearly R300 million spent repatriating foreign nationals as the country intensifies its crackdown on undocumented migration.
The Department of Home Affairs said it had written to the three countries through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, DIRCO, requesting reimbursement for the cost of the repatriation operation, which has seen tens of thousands of foreign nationals processed for return to their home countries.
As of August 6, the department had processed 82,875 foreign nationals through its repatriation centres. The figure excludes people repatriated before June 30 and those processed directly by the Border Management Authority.
Tommy Makhode, director-general of the Department of Home Affairs, told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs that the department had spent R292 million on the operation, far exceeding its R60 million allocation for deportations.
Transport accounted for the largest share of the expenditure as authorities moved undocumented migrants to repatriation centres and border posts.
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Malawians accounted for the largest group of people returning or being deported, followed by nationals from Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
South African authorities have also continued deportations through the Lindela Repatriation Centre. The Department of Home Affairs said 44,607 foreign nationals were deported from Lindela during the previous financial year, while another 16,078 were deported between April 20 and July 28 this year.
The repatriation programme followed a surge in anti-immigrant protests across South Africa, with several African governments organizing voluntary returns for their citizens amid concerns about their safety.
The development has further fuelled a regional debate over responsibility for undocumented migration and the financial burden of returning foreign nationals to their countries of origin.
Pretoria is now awaiting responses from Nigeria, Malawi and Ethiopia as it seeks to recover part of the R292 million already spent on the repatriation operation.
News Express
