South Africa seeks reimbursement from African countries for migrant repatriations
Home Affairs says the R292 million repatriation effort was unfunded and processed at least 82,875 foreign nationals by Aug. 6, officials said.
- On Tuesday, South Africa requested that Malawi, Ethiopia, and Nigeria reimburse nearly $18 million in costs for repatriating tens of thousands of their citizens following anti-immigration protests.
- Heightened tensions and anti-illegal immigration protests prompted the mass repatriations, with groups blaming migrants for high unemployment, crime, and pressure on public services.
- Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode described the expenditures as "unforeseen and unavoidable," covering bus transport, temporary centers, and staff overtime among other costs.
- Law enforcement intensified operations last week, arresting nearly 60,000 undocumented individuals, while 16,078 nationals were deported through the Lindela Repatriation Centre between April and July.
- Regional relations remain strained, as some nations accuse South Africa of failing to protect their citizens; Ghana recently suggested adding the situation to an African Union agenda, but the continental body rejected the proposal.
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32 Articles
Pretoria wrote to Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia asking for compensation. Repatriations cost five times as much as the planned budget for operations.
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African InsiderSA seeks R292m reimbursement from Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia for repatriations
The Department of Home Affairs has written to the governments of Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia seeking reimbursement for the costs incurred in repatriating their citizens from South Africa. Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode made the disclosure during a briefing to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on Tuesday, 11 August 2026. According to The Citizen, the department said it had spent... Read more → The post SA seeks R292m…
South Africa is taking rigorous action against migrants. Many have already had to leave the country. Furthermore, there are attacks against people who are considered to be illegal immigrants. Sometimes they end up fatal. Soon the International Criminal Court may be dealing with the events.
Millions of Africans came to find work. Now many leave the country. Xenophobia and policy failure reverse a historical migration movement
South Africa seeks repayment from African nations for mass migrant returns
South Africa has asked Malawi, Ethiopia and Nigeria to refund repatriation costs for migrants sent home. The demand highlights mounting fiscal strain and deepening regional tensions over illegal immigration.
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