South Africa has asked several African governments to repay the costs of returning tens of thousands of their citizens home, after a surge in deportations and voluntary repatriations linked to anti-immigration protests and violence.
The Home Affairs department told lawmakers that the country has spent nearly $18 million on accommodation, transport and related expenses for more than 80,000 immigrants who left or were removed. Officials said the Foreign Ministry has sent formal requests for compensation to Malawi, Ethiopia and Nigeria.
The outlays covered buses, temporary repatriation centers and staff overtime. Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode described the costs as “unforeseen and unavoidable.” Some municipalities and other government departments that helped with the operations are now seeking repayment from Home Affairs, saying the expenses were not budgeted.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber called the recent volume of repatriations and deportations unprecedented. The departures followed heightened tensions over immigration in South Africa, where protest groups have blamed migrants for high unemployment, crime and strain on public services. Attacks on foreign nationals have also strained relations with other African governments.
South Africa has seen more than 178,000 immigrants either flee or be deported amid the unrest, according to related reporting.
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