The South African government has announced plans to recover the costs of deporting undocumented foreign nationals by charging their home countries, a move that could affect Nigeria and several other African nations with large migrant populations in the country.
The proposal, unveiled by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, would require governments whose citizens are detained for violating immigration laws and subsequently deported to reimburse South Africa for expenses incurred during the process.
According to officials, the measure is part of broader efforts to address illegal migration and ease the financial burden associated with immigration enforcement. Authorities say more than 100,000 undocumented migrants have been deported over the past two years, placing significant strain on state resources.
“South Africa cannot continue to bear the growing financial burden of detaining and deporting undocumented foreign nationals alone,” a government official familiar with the policy said. “Countries whose citizens violate our immigration laws should share responsibility for the costs involved in returning them home.”
Under the proposed policy, costs associated with detention, processing and transportation of undocumented migrants back to their countries of origin would be recovered through diplomatic channels. The government also indicated that the policy would extend to foreign nationals held in criminal detention facilities before being deported.
The Department of Home Affairs is expected to coordinate the implementation of the reimbursement framework and engage affected countries on the matter.
“This is not a punitive measure against any nation,” the official added. “It is intended to promote accountability, strengthen cooperation on migration issues and ensure that the costs of immigration enforcement are fairly distributed.”
The announcement comes amid heightened immigration enforcement across South Africa and follows recent repatriation efforts by several African countries. Nigeria has facilitated the return of hundreds of its citizens from South Africa through government-supported evacuation programmes, while Ghana has reportedly assisted about 1,000 nationals to return home.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration has maintained that enforcing immigration laws remains a sovereign responsibility and has pledged to intensify efforts to identify and remove undocumented migrants residing in the country.
“Every country has the right and obligation to protect the integrity of its borders and enforce its immigration laws,” the official said. “Our actions are guided by the law and by our commitment to national security and public order.”
The proposal is expected to spark debate among African governments over migration management, diplomatic relations and the financial responsibilities associated with deportations.
Migration experts say the policy could face diplomatic resistance from affected countries.
“While governments may understand South Africa’s concerns about illegal migration, asking other countries to pay deportation costs introduces a complex diplomatic and legal dimension that will require extensive consultation,” a regional migration analyst noted.
If implemented, the measure would represent a significant shift in South Africa’s approach to immigration enforcement and could set a precedent for other countries grappling with rising deportation costs.