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South Africa to Bill Nigeria, Other Nations for Deportation Costs of Undocumented Migrants
The South African government has announced plans to recover the costs associated with deporting undocumented foreign nationals by charging the governments of their countries of origin.
The policy, unveiled by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, will require countries whose citizens are arrested for violating immigration laws and subsequently deported to reimburse Pretoria for expenses incurred during detention, processing, and repatriation.
Officials said the measure is part of broader efforts by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration to strengthen immigration enforcement and reduce the financial burden placed on the state by illegal migration.
According to government figures, more than 100,000 undocumented migrants have been deported from South Africa over the past two years, a development authorities say has significantly increased public expenditure on immigration control and detention operations.
The proposed reimbursement framework will also apply to foreign nationals held in correctional facilities for criminal offences before being repatriated to their home countries. South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs is expected to spearhead engagements with affected governments to facilitate the recovery of deportation-related costs.
The announcement comes amid heightened concerns over the status of undocumented migrants in South Africa and follows recent repatriation initiatives undertaken by several African countries. Nigeria and Ghana have both facilitated the return of citizens from South Africa, with hundreds of Nigerians reportedly returning through government-backed evacuation programmes, while Ghana has overseen the repatriation of about 1,000 nationals.
Defending the policy, the South African government maintained that enforcing immigration laws remains a sovereign responsibility and reaffirmed its commitment to identifying, detaining, and removing individuals residing in the country illegally.
The proposed move is expected to generate debate among African nations over migration management, diplomatic relations, and the allocation of financial responsibilities arising from deportation processes.
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