Over 30,000 Undocumented Foreigners Repatriated from eThekwini

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Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has announced that over 30,000 undocumented foreign nationals have been repatriated from eThekwini, with tens of thousands more already returned through a centralised government process. The repatriation operation, which is being carried out at the Musina temporary repatriation facility, has seen 525 buses processed by government so far.

Dr Schreiber described the operation as 'a massive operation' that was 'truly unprecedented', saying its scale reflected the coordinated effort by the Inter-Ministerial Committee and various government departments. Speaking on the sidelines of his visit to the Beitbridge Border Post in Limpopo, Schreiber said the process involved several checks before anyone could be repatriated, including verifying whether individuals were wanted for crimes in South Africa, recording the biometrics of those found to be in the country illegally, declaring them undesirable in terms of the Immigration Act and ensuring all cross-border permits for transport were in place.

The new temporary repatriation facility established in Musina provides a more suitable environment for those awaiting processing, with ablutions, water, food, and all processing work, security, and everything in one location. As at Wednesday morning, about 500 people were at the facility, with plans to increase its capacity to 4,000 people and for the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to expand it further.

Government has met with the International Organisation for Migration, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and several non-governmental organisations to help ensure the repatriation process was conducted properly. Dr Schreiber said his team was committed to ensuring the operation was carried out lawfully while protecting the dignity of everyone being processed.

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Dr Schreiber's announcement comes as the government continues to focus on strengthening border control and ensuring the safety and security of all South Africans. The repatriation operation is part of a broader effort to address the issue of undocumented foreigners in the country.

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The government's efforts to repatriate undocumented foreigners have been ongoing for several months, with a significant increase in the number of individuals being processed at the Musina facility. The operation has seen tens of thousands of people already returned, with over 30,000 individuals out of eThekwini alone being repatriated.

30,000 undocumented foreigners repatriated from eThekwini in a massive government operation.