South Africa migration crackdown: 354 arrests, 72,000 repatriated

South Africa's government reported that law‑enforcement agencies registered 354 arrests and prosecutions for migration‑related offences, while more than 72,000 foreign nationals have been processed for repatriation under the national migration management plan. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi briefed the media alongside International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and Home Affairs Director‑General Livhuwani Tommy Makhode after an unannounced inspection of the Lindela repatriation centre in Krugersdorp, raising concerns about detention backlogs, deportation delays and coordination weaknesses.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said the repatriation process constitutes one of the country’s biggest human‑rights crises since 1994, citing reports of inadequate sanitation, hunger, family separations and alleged police‑enabled vigilantism at repatriation centres. The commission is considering using subpoena powers to compel information from ministries and police officials. Amnesty International has also called out the government's handling of the repatriations. Most of the repatriated individuals were processed through the Musina temporary repatriation processing centre, with a large share of Malawian nationals.