South Africa has formally requested that Nigeria, Malawi, and Ethiopia reimburse approximately $18.5 million spent on deporting and repatriating their citizens, following the return of more than 80,000 immigrants to their home countries. The demand, confirmed by the Department of Home Affairs, comes as tensions over illegal immigration continue to rise across South Africa.
Cost Breakdown and Official Briefing
According to South Africa's Home Affairs Department, which briefed lawmakers on Tuesday, the government spent nearly $18 million accommodating and transporting immigrants who were deported or voluntarily returned home. The costs included providing buses, setting up temporary repatriation centres, and hiring additional staff to manage the large number of departures.
The foreign ministry has since written to the governments of Nigeria, Malawi, and Ethiopia seeking reimbursement. As of the time of the report, none of the three governments had responded to the request.
Unforeseen Financial Burden
Tommy Makhode, director-general of the Home Affairs Department, described the expenses as “unforeseen and unavoidable.” Some municipalities and government departments involved in the exercise have also asked to be compensated, as these costs were not included in their original budgets, creating an unexpected financial burden for different levels of government.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has described the recent volume of deportations and repatriations as unprecedented, with the scale of departures occurring amid heightened tensions over immigration across the country.
Background of Tensions and Protests
The departures followed protests and violence linked to concerns about illegal immigration. Anti-illegal migration groups have increasingly blamed migrants for problems including high unemployment, crime, and pressure on public services. These tensions have also contributed to attacks on foreign nationals and strained relations between South Africa and other African countries whose citizens live and work there.
South Africa's latest request adds a financial dimension to an already sensitive immigration issue. The country is now seeking to recover part of the money it says was spent handling the large-scale repatriation exercise from the governments of three countries whose citizens were among those sent home.
For Nigeria, Malawi, and Ethiopia, the next step will depend on how their governments respond to the reimbursement requests sent by South Africa's foreign ministry.
