South Africa has commenced the deportation of hundreds of Nigerian nationals who were found to be residing in the country unlawfully, according to the Department of Home Affairs.
The department confirmed that 586 Nigerian nationals have been processed for repatriation after being identified as living in South Africa without legal status.
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The first deportation flight departed on Thursday morning carrying 268 individuals, while a second flight has been scheduled for Monday to complete the operation.
All those being repatriated have been declared undesirable and will be prohibited from re-entering South Africa for a period of five years.
South Africa Steps Up Immigration Enforcement Efforts
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the latest deportation operation forms part of broader efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement across the country.
According to Schreiber, deportations have increased by 46% over the past two years as authorities continue implementing reforms aimed at improving border management and identity verification systems.
“Our reform agenda, as recently affirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, including the ongoing scale-up of the Electronic Travel Authorisation to record biometrics for every foreigner entering our country, the replacement of the fraud-prone Green ID Book with Smart ID cards through our digital partnership with the banks, and the introduction of a cutting-edge Digital Identity system, are systematically enhancing our capacity to enforce immigration laws,” says Dr. Schreiber.
Electronic Travel Authorisation And Digital Identity Reforms
The minister said several technology-driven initiatives are helping authorities improve their ability to monitor and enforce compliance with immigration regulations.
These include the expansion of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system, the rollout of Smart ID cards to replace the Green ID Book, and the development of a Digital Identity platform designed to strengthen verification processes.
Home Affairs Urges Public Not To Take Law Into Their Own Hands
While highlighting progress in immigration enforcement, Schreiber appealed to members of the public to allow authorities to carry out their responsibilities through lawful processes.
He says in this context of ongoing progress, the public is again urged to never engage in violence or take the law into their own hands.
