South Africa processes over 86,000 deportations amid migration tensions

South Africa has processed the deportation or repatriation of over 86,000 foreign nationals between June 14 and August 20, according to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi noted that Malawians constitute the largest group of those processed, followed by citizens from Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Government data indicates that 90 percent of those repatriated had entered the country illegally, with 95 percent crossing borders outside of official checkpoints.

The government cited deteriorating infrastructure along the country’s 4,471-kilometer land border as a primary factor enabling illegal crossings, smuggling, and transnational crime. To manage these operations, authorities have deployed more than 2,300 labor inspectors and 4,000 interns.

These enforcement actions occur amid rising social tensions and reports of xenophobic violence. In Durban, protests erupted when demonstrators confronted asylum seekers camping near the Durban Refugee Reception Centre. While some groups claim they are addressing community issues like crime and sanitation, others, including the African Diaspora Global Network, have warned that the current climate risks making South Africa appear hostile to the migrant community and neighboring nations.