South Africa says more than 53,000 foreigners deported in migration campaign
The South African government says it has deported or repatriated more than 53,000 foreign nationals in the five weeks since launching a nationwide migration management campaign.
Officials said the majority of those removed from the country were citizens of Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, adding that the figure is expected to increase as deportation and repatriation operations continue.
The campaign marks one of South Africa’s largest crackdowns on undocumented migrants in recent years and follows weeks of anti-immigration protests that have been accompanied by reports of violence, intimidation and looting.
Protesters have been calling for stricter border controls and the mass removal of undocumented migrants, arguing that they contribute to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.
However, the United Nations has cautioned against blaming migrants for the country’s economic and social challenges.
Anti-immigration groups have vowed to continue holding weekly demonstrations until their demands are met, raising concerns that the protests could escalate into further violence.
Some demonstrators had also set an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country, prompting many foreign nationals to depart out of fear of attacks and harassment.
In recent weeks, several African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya, have repatriated their citizens from South Africa.
Addressing a news conference in Pretoria on Sunday, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said 53,499 foreign nationals had so far been processed for deportation and repatriation, with Malawians accounting for the largest group, followed by Zimbabweans and Mozambicans.
She said the government was committed to ensuring orderly and lawful migration while respecting the human rights and dignity of everyone in the country, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.
Ms Kubayi added that the operation had also led to the arrest of individuals wanted by police for alleged criminal offences.
While affirming that immigration laws would continue to be enforced, she warned members of the public against conducting unauthorised searches of homes and businesses suspected of harbouring undocumented migrants.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged growing public concerns over immigration but has condemned attacks on foreign nationals, urging citizens to allow law enforcement agencies to carry out their responsibilities.
South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised economy, has long attracted migrants seeking better economic opportunities, including many who enter the country without legal documentation.
Source: BBC
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