SA deports over 40k undocumented migrants

JOHANNESBURG - More than 46,000 undocumented migrants have been deported from South Africa in the 2024/25 financial year, marking an 18% leap from the previous year.

This is the highest number of deportations carried out in at least five years and triple the number conducted in recent years.

The Department of Home Affairs says this also exceeds the number of deportations conducted by France and Germany combined in the same period.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says the latest statistics are thanks to a tighter collaboration with the border management authority and police.

“This marked increase in the effectiveness of enforcement operations demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rule of law.”

Schreiber says reforms in the works are also helping to implement tighter controls at the borders.

“This improved performance, coupled with our digital transformation reforms that will automate entry and exit to prevent people from entering the country illegally through our ports of entry, is contributing to enhanced national security and trade facilitation.”