South Africa is seeking reimbursement from several African countries after spending nearly US$18 million on the accommodation, transportation and other costs...
South Africa is seeking reimbursement from several African countries after spending nearly US$18 million on the accommodation, transportation and other costs associated with returning foreign nationals to their home countries.
The request was disclosed by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs during a briefing to Parliament, as the government continues a major crackdown on undocumented migration and manages a growing number of deportations and voluntary repatriations. The countries named in reports include Malawi, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
According to the Associated Press, South Africa has repatriated more than 80,000 people through deportations and assisted returns during the recent operations. The Home Affairs Department said the costs included buses, temporary accommodation and repatriation facilities, staff overtime, food and other operational expenses.
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South Africa’s Director-General of Home Affairs, Tommy Makhode, described the expenses as unforeseen and unavoidable, according to reports. The government says that while some of the affected countries assisted with aspects of the repatriation process, South Africa ultimately carried much of the financial burden.
The latest demand for reimbursement comes after South Africa increased enforcement against undocumented migrants amid growing political and public pressure over immigration. The government has been conducting deportations while also facilitating the voluntary return of foreign nationals who want to leave the country.
South Africa’s government had previously said that countries requesting voluntary repatriation should carry the primary responsibility for transportation costs and logistical arrangements. However, the government also acknowledged that circumstances can arise where South African authorities provide financial and humanitarian assistance on a case-by-case basis.
In July, the South African government reported that more than 53,000 foreign nationals had been processed for deportation or repatriation. The operation was dominated by Malawian nationals, who accounted for more than 80% of those processed at that stage, followed by Zimbabweans and Mozambicans.
South Africa also established a Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre in Musina, which began operating on 1 July. The government said more than 20,000 Malawian, Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals had been repatriated through the centre by the time of its July update.
The government’s figures show that the repatriation programme has involved several countries. In its July update, the government said countries including Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique and Zimbabwe had come forward to offer voluntary repatriation of their nationals. Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo were later included among countries making similar requests.
The costs have placed additional pressure on South African government departments and municipalities involved in the process. The government has said that transport, security and accommodation are among the expenses it has been funding as part of the broader migration operation.
The issue is particularly significant for Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique because of the large numbers of nationals from those countries who have been affected by the current repatriation and deportation programme. South African government figures released in July showed that the majority of people processed for return at that stage were from those three countries.
The South African government has also distinguished between deportation and voluntary repatriation. Deportation is a formal process under the Immigration Act, while voluntary repatriation involves foreign nationals returning to their countries of origin with assistance. The government has said that, under normal circumstances, the host country mainly handles verification and the issuing of orders to leave.
The financial dispute comes as immigration remains a sensitive issue in South Africa. The country’s high unemployment rate and pressure on public services have contributed to tensions over the presence of foreign nationals, while the government has repeatedly said that immigration enforcement must be conducted through lawful state processes rather than vigilantism.
The recent enforcement campaign has also created diplomatic concerns with other African governments. According to the Associated Press, several governments have raised concerns about the treatment of their citizens in South Africa as the number of people returning home has increased.
The South African government has maintained that its migration policy is based on enforcing immigration laws while providing humanitarian assistance where necessary. In a July statement, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration said migration management would continue to be guided by the Constitution, the rule of law, international obligations and the protection of human dignity.
The request for reimbursement now adds a financial dimension to the wider regional migration issue. South Africa is seeking to recover some of the money it says it spent on returning foreign nationals, after absorbing costs associated with transportation, temporary accommodation, food and staffing.
It remains unclear from the available reports whether the countries that have received the reimbursement requests have agreed to pay the amounts sought or how much each government would be expected to contribute.
For South Africa, the issue is now part of the broader effort to manage the financial consequences of increased deportations and repatriations. For the affected countries, the requests come as they continue receiving nationals who have left South Africa through both voluntary returns and formal deportation processes.
The government is therefore seeking to recover part of the nearly US$18 million it says was spent on the repatriation operation, while continuing to enforce its immigration laws and process foreign nationals being returned to their countries of origin.
