The South African government has announced plans to recover the costs of deporting undocumented foreign nationals by billing the governments of their home countries.
According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, countries whose citizens are detained for violating South Africa’s immigration laws and subsequently deported will be expected to cover the expenses incurred during the process.
The proposed measure comes as South Africa intensifies efforts to curb illegal migration and address growing concerns over undocumented foreigners living in the country. Authorities say more than 100,000 undocumented migrants have been deported over the past two years, placing significant financial pressure on the state.
Officials noted that the policy would also apply to foreign nationals held in criminal detention facilities before being returned to their countries of origin. The government said it would work through the Department of Home Affairs to pursue reimbursement from affected countries.
The announcement follows recent repatriation exercises by several African nations, including Nigeria and Ghana, amid increasing fears among their citizens residing in South Africa. Hundreds of Nigerians have already returned home under a government-coordinated evacuation programme, while Ghana has facilitated the return of about 1,000 of its nationals.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration has maintained that enforcing immigration laws is a sovereign responsibility and has vowed to strengthen efforts to identify and remove undocumented migrants. The new policy is expected to spark discussions among African governments regarding migration management, diplomatic relations, and the financial responsibilities associated with deportations.
