South Africa repatriation drive: 68,138 foreign nationals processed in 40 days
Synopsis
In just 40 days, South Africa processed over 68,000 foreign nationals — the largest documented repatriation push in recent memory — even as attacks on migrants reportedly drove some to leave voluntarily. With 93 joint border operations since April and 354 criminal cases filed for unauthorised identity checks, Pretoria is signalling it will police both illegal migration and vigilante enforcement simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
68,138 foreign nationals were processed in South Africa between 14 June and 24 July 2025 , with the majority repatriated.
The Border Management Authority separately logged 72,906 repatriations at ports of entry between 7 June and 14 July .
Immigration courts finalised 28,736 cases — mainly deportations — between 1 April and end of June.
354 arrests and prosecutions have been registered against individuals violating migration laws; 69 more were arrested in the Eastern Cape last weekend.
93 joint border operations conducted since April targeting illicit goods, human trafficking, and drug syndicates.
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi warned that unauthorised identity checks on foreign nationals are illegal and will be prosecuted.
South Africa has processed 68,138 foreign nationals between 14 June and 24 July, with the majority repatriated to their countries of origin, the government confirmed on Sunday, 26 July. The figures were disclosed at a media briefing in Pretoria by Mmamoloko Kubayi, Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Scale of the Operation
According to Kubayi, the bulk of the processing took place at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre, after Malawian nationals first assembled at Sherwood in KwaZulu-Natal on 14 June. Separately, the Border Management Authority processed 72,906 repatriations involving various nationalities at ports of entry between 7 June and 14 July, including cases handled at the temporary centre.
Dedicated immigration courts finalised 28,736 immigration-related cases — mainly deportations — between 1 April and the end of June, according to Kubayi.
Context: Attacks on Foreign Nationals
The repatriation surge comes amid a documented rise in attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, which has reportedly prompted a number of migrants to opt for voluntary return. The government has been coordinating with representatives of countries of origin to facilitate the process, according to officials. This is not the first time South Africa has faced a migration flashpoint — the country has seen recurring episodes of xenophobic violence, particularly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, over the past two decades.
Rule of Law Warning
Kubayi issued a firm warning against unauthorised identity checks on foreign nationals, stressing that migration management is the exclusive responsibility of state authorities. 'Government is making it clear that migration management is fundamentally a rule-of-law matter. Criminality will not be tolerated, regardless of who is involved,' she said.
Law enforcement authorities have registered 354 cases of arrests and prosecutions against individuals contravening migration laws. An additional 69 people were arrested in the Eastern Cape last weekend and appeared in court on Monday.
Border Operations and Regional Cooperation
Since April, a total of 93 joint border operations have been conducted to crack down on illegal movement of illicit goods, human trafficking, and drug syndicates, Kubayi said. The government has also intensified engagement with neighbouring countries and countries of origin to strengthen cooperation on documentation, repatriation, and information sharing.
With immigration courts continuing to clear backlogs and border operations ongoing, South Africa's migration management framework faces a sustained test of both capacity and legal consistency in the months ahead.
Point of View
But the real story is the dual pressure South Africa is trying to manage: a state-led repatriation drive running in parallel with a crackdown on vigilante enforcement. The 354 prosecutions for unauthorised identity checks signal that Pretoria is aware of the legal and reputational risk of allowing mob-driven migration policing — a pattern that has historically spiralled into xenophobic violence. Whether the immigration courts, border authorities, and inter-ministerial machinery can sustain this pace without procedural shortcuts is the question that will define whether this is a genuine rule-of-law moment or a numbers exercise.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many foreign nationals has South Africa repatriated recently?
South Africa processed 68,138 foreign nationals between 14 June and 24 July 2025, with the majority repatriated to their countries of origin. The Border Management Authority also recorded 72,906 repatriations at ports of entry in a slightly overlapping period.
Why is South Africa carrying out mass repatriations?
The repatriations are part of a government-led effort to manage migration challenges, which have intensified amid a reported rise in attacks on foreign nationals. Some migrants have reportedly opted for voluntary return as a result of the violence.
Who is overseeing South Africa's migration crackdown?
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, chaired by Mmamoloko Kubayi — who also serves as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development — is coordinating the repatriation and border enforcement effort across multiple government departments.
What action is being taken against unauthorised identity checks on migrants?
The South African government has warned that unauthorised identity checks by non-state actors are illegal. Law enforcement has registered 354 cases of arrests and prosecutions for migration law violations, and an additional 69 people were arrested in the Eastern Cape for related offences.
What border operations has South Africa conducted?
Since April 2025, South Africa has conducted 93 joint border operations targeting the illegal movement of illicit goods, human trafficking, and drug syndicates. The government is also deepening cooperation with neighbouring countries on documentation and information sharing.
