South Africa Demands Repatriation Cost Refunds from Malawi, Nigeria & Ethiopia

South Africa has written to the governments of Malawi, Nigeria, and Ethiopia requesting financial reimbursement for repatriation costs after processing tens of thousands of foreign nationals during recent anti-illegal immigrant protests, according to the Department of Home Affairs.

Home Affairs Seeks R292 Million Reimbursement From Foreign Governments

The Department of Home Affairs spent R292 million on an unfunded repatriation process following anti-illegal immigrant protests led by organizations such as March and March and Operation Dudula. Makhode stated that the largest portion of this unbudgeted expenditure went toward procuring buses to transport people to repatriation centres.

Additional reporting by Joburg Etc and Maravi Express noted that the repatriation exercise involved significant regional logistics. Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) reported that it repatriated 56,723 citizens through the Mwanza border post before closing its programme, recording seven deaths during the operation. DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni announced that reception centres would be decommissioned after the final government-funded buses departed from consular offices in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Lindela Repatriation Centre Statistics and Regional Nationalities

The Lindela repatriation centre processed large volumes of departures across multiple financial terms, according to official department records. Home Affairs confirmed that 44,607 foreign nationals were deported from Lindela during the previous financial year. Between April 20 and July 28, an additional 16,078 individuals were removed.

Malawians accounted for the majority of deportees across both periods. Comparative figures provided by Home Affairs show:

• Zimbabweans: 13,479 in the previous period versus 4,095 in the current period
• Mozambicans: 12,354 in the previous period versus 4,034 in the current period
• Basotho: 3,494 in the previous period versus 931 in the current period

The facility also managed departures for citizens from countries outside the region, including Vietnam, Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, the UK, Thailand, Slovakia, Paraguay, Liberia, Lebanon, Jordan, and Hungary, according to Home Affairs data.

Dedicated Immigration Courts and Undesirable Traveller Designations

South Africa’s dedicated immigration courts handled at least numerous cases, with Gauteng recording the highest volume, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Northern Cape. Director-General Tommy Makhode noted that these courts align with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s June 7 announcement to establish specialized judicial infrastructure, including a planned full court at OR Tambo International Airport and expanded capacity at Lindela.

Concurrently, foreign nationals who overstayed their authorized visit by 30 days or more faced strict administrative penalties under section 30 of the Immigration Act. These individuals were declared “undesirable travelers,” triggering a one-year ban for 30-day overstays and bans ranging from two to five years for longer infractions. Home Affairs recorded a significant number of such declarations in the previous year, dropping during the current tracking period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did South Africa request reimbursement from Malawi, Nigeria, and Ethiopia?

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the repatriation exercise was completely unfunded and cost the department R292 million, primarily spent on bus transportation during anti-illegal immigrant protests.

How many foreign nationals were processed during the repatriation?

Home Affairs reported that at least 82,875 foreign nationals were processed at repatriation centres as of August 6, 2026, excluding numbers handled before June 30 and those processed by the Border Management Authority.

Which nationality made up the majority of deportations at Lindela?

According to official department statistics, Malawians formed the majority of deportees in both the previous and current financial years, followed by Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, and Basotho.

What penalties apply to foreigners who overstay their visas in South Africa?

Under the Immigration Act, individuals who overstay by 30 days or more are declared undesirable, facing travel bans lasting from one to five years depending on the duration of the overstay.