Nearly 3,000 foreigners leave South Africa amid immigration crackdown

South Africa has announced that 2,745 foreign nationals have returned to their home countries over the past two weeks, as authorities intensify efforts to enforce immigration laws.

The Department of Home Affairs said the departures were facilitated through voluntary repatriation arrangements coordinated with the respective foreign missions. The figure includes 958 Ghanaians, 640 Malawians, 583 Mozambicans, 296 Zimbabweans and 268 Nigerians.

According to the department, many of those who left were found to be in breach of South Africa’s immigration regulations through overstaying visas, expired permits and other forms of non-compliance.

Deputy Director-General for Operations, Thulani Mavuso, said the process begins when a foreign mission formally requests assistance for the return of its nationals. He explained that immigration authorities then verify the status of the individuals and work with diplomatic representatives to facilitate their departure.

The latest announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement in South Africa following a series of anti-immigration protests in several communities. The demonstrations have fuelled concerns among migrant groups and prompted some foreign governments to assist citizens wishing to return home.

Earlier this week, South African authorities disclosed that 586 Nigerian nationals had been processed for repatriation after being found to be residing in the country illegally. The first flight carrying 268 Nigerians departed on 11 June, while a second flight was scheduled to transport the remaining individuals. Those affected were issued emergency travel documents by the Nigerian High Commission.

Home Affairs said all Nigerians processed under the repatriation programme had been declared undesirable persons under South African immigration laws and would be barred from re-entering the country for five years.

The South African government has maintained that its actions are aimed at enforcing immigration laws in an orderly and lawful manner. Officials say deportations and repatriations have increased significantly in recent years as part of broader efforts to strengthen border management and immigration controls.

The latest figures also follow other large-scale departures in recent weeks, including the processing of more than 900 Mozambican nationals through the Lebombo Port of Entry in a coordinated operation involving immigration and border authorities.