Over the past three years, South Africa's Home Affairs Department has spent R552 million on the detention and deportation of illegal foreigners, raising concerns about the financial implications for the state and the potential for repatriation programmes.

South African officials say they have deported or repatriated more than 53,000 immigrants in a month in a crackdown on illegal migration.

South Africa deportations — South Africa has processed 53,449 foreign nationals for deportation by July 2026, with Malawians making up over 80% of the tota