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.

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…