Key facts
- South Africa has deported or repatriated over 53,000 foreign nationals.
- The campaign has been ongoing for five weeks.
- The majority of those deported were from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
South Africa has deported or repatriated over 53,000 foreign nationals in a five-week migration management campaign. The majority were from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, amid protests demanding tighter border controls and mass deportations.
The campaign highlights significant socioeconomic pressures in South Africa and the resulting tensions surrounding immigration, with potential implications for regional stability and human rights.
The South African government has announced that over 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated since initiating a "migration management" campaign five weeks ago. The majority of those processed for deportation were from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
This crackdown follows weeks of anti-immigration protests where demonstrators have demanded stricter border controls and mass deportations, attributing socioeconomic challenges like high unemployment, crime, and public service collapse to migrants. The UN has cautioned against scapegoating migrants for these issues.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi stated that the campaign aims for "orderly and regular migration" that is sensitive to public concerns while upholding human rights. She noted that the process has also led to the apprehension of individuals wanted by police for alleged criminal activity. Authorities intend to continue enforcing immigration laws, but warned protesters against conducting unauthorized searches.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged public concerns about immigration but has condemned attacks against migrants, urging citizens not to take the law into their own hands. South Africa, as the continent's wealthiest nation, has historically attracted migrants seeking better economic opportunities, some of whom enter the country illegally.