South Africa is seeking reimbursement from Nigeria, Malawi and Ethiopia for the costs of repatriating their nationals as the country intensifies its crackdown on undocumented migration.
The Department of Home Affairs says it has spent almost R300 million, approximately $18.5 million, on the repatriation operation, which has seen tens of thousands of foreign nationals processed for return to their countries.
The department has written to the government of Malawi and to the embassies of Nigeria and Ethiopia, through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) requesting reimbursement of the costs incurred.
Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs that the department had spent R292 million on the operation, substantially exceeding its R60 million allocation for deportations.
Transport accounted for the largest share of the expenditure, as authorities moved undocumented migrants to repatriation centres and border points.
