South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has formally requested that the governments of Nigeria, Malawi, and Ethiopia reimburse costs tied to a massive repatriation operation that left Pretoria nearly R300 million out of pocket. The department spent R292 million on the operation, far exceeding the R60 million originally budgeted for deportations, according to Director-General Tommy Makhode.
Reimbursement Requests Sent to Three Countries
Makhode disclosed the figures to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, noting that transport costs formed the largest part of the bill as authorities moved undocumented migrants from across the country to repatriation centres and border crossings. He confirmed that letters requesting repayment were sent through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
"We have also written to the government of Malawi and, of course, the embassies of Nigeria and Ethiopia requesting reimbursements of this cost through the department of DIRCO," Makhode told lawmakers. South Africa is now awaiting responses from all three governments.
Scale of the Repatriation Operation
As of August 6, a total of 82,875 foreign nationals had been processed through Home Affairs repatriation centres. That count excludes those repatriated before June 30 and those handled directly by the Border Management Authority, meaning the actual number is likely higher. Malawians formed the largest group, followed by Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals.
The department also continued deportations through the Lindela Repatriation Centre, where 44,607 people were deported in the previous financial year. Between April 20 and July 28 this year, a further 16,078 were deported through the same facility.
Context and Financial Pressure
The operation was triggered by anti-immigrant protests that swept parts of South Africa earlier this year. Several African governments organised voluntary return programmes for their citizens amid safety concerns, while South African authorities ramped up enforcement and deportations as part of what the government described as a push to strengthen immigration control.
Makhode said the financial pressure created by the programme, which had no dedicated budget line, was a major concern for the department going forward. The repatriation operation's costs have strained Home Affairs resources, and the department is now seeking to recover the R292 million from the three nations to alleviate that burden.
