South Africa has begun repatriating 586 Nigerian nationals found to be living illegally in the country, with the first group of 268 deportees returning on Thursday.
The South African Department of Home Affairs said all individuals processed for deportation were issued Emergency Travel Documents by the Nigerian High Commission to enable their return. The affected Nigerians were declared undesirable persons under the country’s Immigration Act and banned from re-entering South Africa for five years.
The department praised the Nigerian High Commission for its cooperation during the documentation and repatriation process. A second flight carrying the remaining deportees is scheduled for 15 June, which will conclude the operation.
Authorities reiterated that all foreign nationals must possess valid visas or legal authorisation to stay in South Africa and urged those without proper documentation to regularise their status.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber emphasised the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and upholding the rule of law. “Deportations and repatriations carried out by the department have increased by 46 per cent over the past two years,” Schreiber said, pointing to intensified enforcement efforts. He highlighted ongoing reforms to strengthen border management and identity verification, including the expansion of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, wider rollout of Smart ID cards, and the development of a Digital Identity platform.
However, the minister cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands or engaging in violence against foreign nationals.
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