South Africa says it has returned 2,745 foreign nationals to their home countries in the week since President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged tougher action against illegal immigration, underscoring growing tensions over migration in Africa’s most industrialized economy.
The announcement, made on Sunday by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, comes amid a fresh wave of anti-immigrant protests and rising concern over the safety of foreign communities living in the country.
“As of last night, the number we can report is 2,745 repatriations that have come in this period since the president spoke,” Mr. Schreiber told reporters, adding that the figure continued to change as operations were ongoing.
South Africa has long drawn migrants from across the continent, attracted by opportunities in mining, construction and the service sector. Yet the country also faces one of the world’s highest unemployment rates, with more than three in 10 people out of work. Frustration over jobs, public services and crime has fuelled repeated outbreaks of anti-immigrant sentiment.
In recent weeks, groups of protesters have marched through several communities demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws. Some foreign nationals have reported threats and intimidation, while governments including Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have organised transport for citizens seeking to return home.
South African authorities say many of those leaving the country had violated immigration rules, including overstaying visas or lacking valid documentation. The Home Affairs Department said the process is carried out in coordination with foreign missions and follows existing immigration procedures.
According to official figures, the largest groups assisted to return home in recent weeks included citizens of Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
In the eastern port city of Durban, thousands of Malawian nationals have gathered at temporary sites while awaiting transport home. On Sunday, buses organised by the Malawian government, with support from South African authorities, began carrying families back across the border.
Among those boarding the buses was Fortunate Chilenje, a Malawian national from Blantyre.
“I’m relieved we are finally leaving. It’s better than living in fear here,” she said.
Rights groups and regional leaders have urged South Africa to enforce its immigration laws without fuelling hostility towards migrants. President Ramaphosa has condemned recent violence and warned against vigilantism, saying concerns over illegal immigration must not be used to justify attacks on foreign nationals.
South African police have also dismissed social media claims that the government issued an official deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country by 30 June, describing widely shared notices as false. (Africa Check)
For many migrants, the decision to leave is driven by more than legal concerns. It is also about safety.
As buses depart and communities adjust to an increasingly charged debate over immigration, South Africa faces a difficult task: enforcing its borders while protecting the rights and dignity of those who have crossed them.
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