South Africa is seeking reimbursement from several African nations for the expenses incurred in repatriating tens of thousands of their citizens. This initiative follows the deportation or repatriation of over 80,000 immigrants amid protests and violence directed at illegal immigration.
According to the Home Affairs department, which recently informed lawmakers, the country has spent around $18 million on accommodating and transporting immigrants wishing to return home. Written requests for compensation have been sent to Malawi, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.
The expenses covered transportation via buses, temporary repatriation centers, and additional staffing costs. Tommy Makhode, the director-general of Home Affairs, termed these costs as “unforeseen and unavoidable.” Several municipalities and government departments that participated in the repatriation are also seeking compensation from Home Affairs due to the unbudgeted nature of these expenses.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber labeled the scale of recent repatriations and deportations as unprecedented. These actions occurred amidst rising tensions over immigration within South Africa. Anti-illegal immigration groups have protested, and incidents of violence towards foreign nationals have tested relationships with other African nations. These groups attribute high unemployment, crime, and public service pressures to migrants.
Some regional countries have accused South Africa of inadequate protection for their citizens, a claim the South African government has refuted. Ghana recently proposed discussing South Africa’s situation at an African Union meeting, but the proposal was dismissed by the organization.
The latest official data indicates that 82,875 people have either voluntarily returned or been deported since the onset of migration tensions. However, figures from migrants’ home governments estimate the total at about 178,000. These departures are part of a broader governmental crackdown.
Between April and July, 16,078 nationals, primarily from Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, were deported through the Lindela Repatriation Centre. South African law enforcement recently announced plans to intensify measures against illegal migration and related offenses, with nearly 60,000 arrests made of illegal residents, including 16,208 in July alone.
