South Africa has deported or repatriated more than 53,000 immigrants in the past month as part of a crackdown on illegal migration. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi stated Sunday that over 80% of those sent home were from Malawi, though officials did not specify how many were deported versus voluntarily repatriated.
Several African nations have provided assistance, such as planes and buses, to facilitate the return of their citizens amid a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment within South Africa. This period has seen some violent protests targeting foreigners, leaving parts of the country on edge.
Authorities have arrested 350 individuals in connection with public violence, intimidation, and unauthorized immigration checks, a practice where civilian groups demand documentation from migrants. The South African police are investigating the deaths of at least three migrants—two from Mozambique and one from Malawi. Nigeria has reported the deaths of two citizens in anti-immigrant protests, a claim South African authorities have disputed, denying a link to the protests.
Immigrants from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique constitute the majority of those deported or repatriated, with citizens of Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya also included, according to South African officials.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last month strengthened border security and immigration law enforcement measures in response to escalating tensions over immigration. These measures followed protests by anti-migrant groups who, without presenting evidence, allege that immigrants contribute to South Africa's high unemployment rate and crime issues.
Ramaphosa has cautioned citizens against vigilantism and taking the law into their own hands, following reports of attacks against migrants. An anti-migrant group protest on June 30, which declared a deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave, was rejected by the government. However, the protest prompted thousands of Malawians to gather at a temporary immigration site in Durban seeking repatriation.
South Africa has historically attracted migrants from other African nations due to its relative economic prosperity, a factor that has periodically led to tensions. In 2008, over 60 people died in xenophobic violence. Smaller outbursts of violence against immigrants have occurred since.
Sabina Tadera of the Southern Africa Network for Immigrants and Refugees noted that some Malawians seeking repatriation were legally in South Africa but feared for their safety. "There is a misconception that all people on the move are undocumented," she stated, emphasizing that many migrants are in the country legally but feel threatened.
The crackdown has also strained diplomatic relations with some home countries, which have voiced criticism regarding a perceived climate of xenophobia. Laura Freeman, a human rights and migration consultant, observed that while South Africa is seen as a destination for economic opportunities, "waves of xenophobic violence… including this one, shift that dynamic, with South Africa increasingly being seen as unfriendly."