Mozambique Responds to South Africa Crisis: 1,400 Repatriated, 56 Detained for Illegal Mining

The Mozambican government announced that about 1,400 of its citizens were repatriated from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic violence. The figures were disclosed by government spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa, noting that 625 people returned between July 1‑4. Authorities are mapping the returnees’ professions and working on their professional integration under existing labour mobility agreements.

Separately, South African police in Gauteng’s Westonaria area detained 56 Mozambican nationals as part of a joint operation targeting a trans‑national illegal mining network. The operation, which also captured more than 100 people from other nationalities, uncovered armed individuals and large caches of ammunition, highlighting ongoing security and immigration challenges linked to illicit mining activities.