South Africa spent R17 billion on deportations over two years, Schreiber says

South Africa spent about R17 billion on deporting undocumented migrants over the past two financial years, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has told Parliament.

The figure was provided in a written reply to a parliamentary question from IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe, according to SABC News.

Schreiber said the largest groups of people deported during the period were nationals of Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The removals also included people from countries in South America, Europe and Asia.

The parliamentary reply places a national cost against the government’s deportation programme, which involves the identification, detention and return of people found to be in the country without legal status.

The reported R17 billion covers two financial years. A year-by-year breakdown and the number of deportations attached to the expenditure were not included in the account reviewed by EBNewsDaily.

Home Affairs is responsible for immigration administration, while other state bodies may be involved in enforcement, detention and transport.