Schreiber hails Operation Vala Umgodi's impact as Home Affairs Dept's deportations surge

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Home Affairs said that Operation Vala Umgodi, established to clamp down on illegal mining at abandoned shafts, had also helped with tackling the crisis of undocumented migrants in the country.

More than 46,000 undocumented migrants were deported from South Africa in the 2024/25 financial year.

This was a surge of 18% from the previous year, making it the highest number of deportations carried out in at least five years.

Zama zamas at decommissioned mines across the country are among challenges identified over the years, including the most recent incident at Stilfontein where hundreds of undocumented migrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho were arrested.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said that the latest deportation data was a good start.

"The fact that Home Affairs now perform more than double the number of deportations conducted in a country like France, which has the highest rate of deportations in the European Union, sends a clear message to offenders that the days of impunity are over. 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," said Schreiber.