South Africa plans to invoice Nigeria for deportation expenses of its nationals

The South African government intends to recoup the costs associated with the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals by charging their home countries.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation announced that nations whose citizens are apprehended for breaching South Africa’s immigration laws and subsequently deported will be billed for the associated costs.

This initiative aligns with South Africa’s increasing efforts to reduce illegal immigration and address concerns regarding undocumented individuals living in the country.

Authorities have revealed that over 100,000 undocumented migrants have been deported in the last two years, creating a substantial financial burden on the state.

Officials indicated that the new policy would also cover foreign nationals detained in criminal facilities prior to their return to their countries. The government plans to coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs to seek reimbursements from the affected countries.

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This announcement follows recent repatriation efforts by various African nations, such as Nigeria and Ghana, due to rising apprehensions among their citizens living in South Africa.

Hundreds of Nigerians have returned home through a government-organized evacuation program, while Ghana has assisted around 1,000 of its nationals in returning.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration emphasizes that enforcing immigration laws is a sovereign duty and pledges to enhance initiatives for identifying and deporting undocumented migrants.

The new policy is likely to prompt discussions among African governments concerning migration management, diplomatic relations, and the financial implications of deportations.