South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs spent nearly R80 million during the 2024/2025 financial year on the deportation of illegal immigrants, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber revealed in a response to a parliamentary question from Patriotic Alliance MP Millicent Mothapa.

According to a government media statement, the funds were allocated to costs associated with detention, deportation processes, and border enforcement this includes operations at the Lindela Repatriation Centre .

During the same period, over 46,000 individuals were deported, specifically 46,898, marking a significant increase over prior years .

Minister Schreiber said this expenditure underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws. The figure demonstrates intensified efforts to control illegal immigration, though he acknowledged it has sparked debate over both the cost and effectiveness of such operations .

Data from the Department of Home Affairs shows that deportations rose from 39,672 in the 2023/24 year to 46,898 in 2024/25 a surge of approximately 18%, and the highest rate in at least five years .

These numbers also exceed the combined deportation counts of France and Germany within the same timeframe. France recorded about 22,000 deportations, and Germany about 20,000 .

The increase in deportation activity reflects enhanced cooperation between the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, the South African Police Service, and local law enforcement. It also stems from joint initiatives such as Operation Vala Umgodi, which bolster enforcement capacity .

In his statement, Minister Schreiber emphasised that “this marked increase in the effectiveness of enforcement operations demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rule of law,” and pointed to the role of digital transformation in automating entry-and-exit systems to better prevent illegal entry .

The debate over the R80 million cost has not gone unnoticed. Critics are raising questions about whether these funds could have been allocated more efficiently, for example, to strengthen border management or develop preventative systems rather than rely heavily on costly post-entry deportation procedures.

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