South Africa has deported or repatriated more than 53,000 undocumented foreign nationals in the five weeks since launching a nationwide migration management campaign, as authorities intensify efforts to enforce immigration laws amid rising anti-immigration tensions. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said 53,499 migrants have been processed for deportation or voluntary repatriation, with the majority coming from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Speaking at a news conference in Pretoria, Kubayi said the operation is aimed at promoting orderly and lawful migration while respecting the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.
“We are striving to achieve an orderly and regular migration which is mindful and sensitive to the concerns raised by our people, while observing human rights and dignity of all people in our country,” she said. The campaign follows weeks of anti-immigration protests in several parts of South Africa, where demonstrators have demanded tighter border controls and the removal of undocumented migrants, blaming them for unemployment, crime and pressure on public services. Some protests have been accompanied by reports of violence, looting and intimidation targeting foreign nationals.
Authorities said the immigration operation has also led to the identification and arrest of individuals wanted for alleged criminal offences. The government, however, warned citizens against taking the law into their own hands by conducting illegal searches of homes or businesses suspected of sheltering undocumented migrants. President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged public concerns over irregular migration but has repeatedly condemned xenophobic attacks and urged South Africans to allow law enforcement agencies to handle immigration matters.
The United Nations has cautioned against using migrants as scapegoats for South Africa’s socioeconomic challenges, warning that discrimination and violence against foreign nationals undermine human rights. Several African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya, have recently repatriated citizens from South Africa following the unrest. South Africa remains one of Africa’s leading destinations for migrants seeking employment and economic opportunities, making immigration one of the country’s most politically sensitive issues.
