South Africa is requesting compensation from several African countries for the costs associated with repatriating tens of thousands of their citizens. This move comes after more than 80,000 immigrants were deported or repatriated in response to protests and violence targeting illegal immigration.
The Home Affairs department recently informed lawmakers that the country has spent approximately $18 million on providing accommodation and transportation for immigrants seeking to return to their home countries. Written requests for compensation have been sent to Malawi, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.
The costs included bus transportation, temporary repatriation centers, and extra staffing expenses. Tommy Makhode, the director-general of Home Affairs, described these costs as “unforeseen and unavoidable.” Several municipalities and government departments involved in the repatriation are also requesting compensation from Home Affairs because these expenses were not budgeted for initially.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber described the recent surge in repatriations and deportations as unparalleled. These measures have taken place against a backdrop of increasing tensions over immigration issues within South Africa. Anti-illegal immigration organizations have staged protests, while acts of violence against foreign nationals have strained diplomatic ties with other African countries. These groups blame migrants for contributing to high unemployment rates, crime levels, and the strain on public services.
Several countries in the region have accused South Africa of not providing sufficient protection for their citizens, a claim that has been denied by the South African government. Ghana recently suggested bringing up South Africa’s situation at an African Union meeting; however, this proposal was rejected by the organization.
According to the latest official data, 82,875 individuals have either voluntarily returned or been deported since migration tensions began. However, estimates from migrants’ home governments suggest that the total number is around 178,000. These departures are part of a wider government crackdown on immigration.
From April to July, the Lindela Repatriation Centre facilitated the deportation of 16,078 nationals, mainly from Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Recently South African law enforcement declared plans to ramp up efforts against illegal migration and associated offenses. Nearly 60,000 arrests were made for illegal residency during this period alone; in July itself there were a total of approximately 16 thousand twenty-eight apprehensions.
