R80 million spent on deporting undocumented immigrants out of South Africa in one year
Almost R80 million was spent on the deportation of foreign nationals who entered South Africa illegally.
Image: Chris Collingridge
The Department of Home Affairs has spent nearly R80 million on the deportation of undocumented immigrants in the 2024/2025 financial year, revealing a sharp increase in expenditure over the last three years.
The figures were disclosed in a written parliamentary response by Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, to a question posed by Patriotic Alliance Member of Parliament Millicent Mothapa.
"What total amount has his department spent on the deportation of illegal immigrants in the past three financial years, and the number of illegal immigrants who were deported?" Mothapa asked.
Dr Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
In his written reply, Schreiber confirmed that the department's expenditure on deportations has risen significantly:
2022/2023 financial year: R32,237,558 was spent on deporting 22,560 undocumented foreign nationals.
2023/2024 financial year: Expenditure jumped to R67,614,902 for the deportation of 39,627 people.
2024/2025 financial year: The cost ballooned to R78,140,005, with 51,650 "undesired people" deported.
The latest figures follow a previous report by IOL last year, which highlighted similar concerns raised by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). In that instance, EFF Member of Parliament Thapelo Mogale had asked about spending in the first five months of the 2024/2025 financial year.
In his written response at the time, Minister Schreiber said the department had deported 19,750 illegal foreigners between April 1 and August 31, at a cost of over R52.8 million.
Last month, IOL reported that in a decisive push against unlawful border crossings, South Africa’s border guards intercepted 9,954 individuals attempting to enter the country illegally during the recent enforcement period.
Border Management Authority (BMA) commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato revealed this during a media conference to report on the authority’s first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, from April 1, 2025, to June 30, 2025.
Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr Michael Masiapato.
Image: Supplied/BMA
Masiapato said their ports’ immigration specialists processed 8,582,250 passengers entering and leaving South Africa.
“Regarding conventional border law enforcement work as undertaken by the border guards, a total of 9,954 persons were intercepted, apprehended and deported as they were attempting to enter the country illegally. Of the 9,954 persons, 5826 were undocumented, 2,127 were inadmissible, and 2001 were undesirables,” Masiapato explained.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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