RSA Seeks Reimbursement For Repatriations

South Africa is asking several African governments to reimburse the cost of sending tens of thousands of their citizens back home amid heightened tensions over illegal immigration.

The Department of Home Affairs told lawmakers on Tuesday that the country had spent nearly $18 million accommodating and transporting migrants who were deported or voluntarily returned to their home countries.

Officials said South Africa’s foreign ministry had sent written reimbursement requests to Malawi, Ethiopia and Nigeria. The costs covered bus transportation, temporary repatriation centres, staff overtime and other expenses linked to the departures.

Tommy Makhode, director-general of the Home Affairs department, described the expenses as “unforeseen and unavoidable”. Some municipalities and government departments involved in the repatriation have also sought compensation from the Home Affairs department because the costs were not included in their budgets.

South Africa said 82,875 people had either been voluntarily repatriated or deported since migration tensions intensified. However, figures provided by migrants’ home governments put the number at about 178,000.

Between April and July, South Africa deported 16,078 people, mainly nationals of Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, through the Lindela Repatriation Centre. Authorities also said nearly 60,000 people living in the country illegally had been arrested.

The departures have occurred amid growing anti-immigrant protests and attacks against foreign nationals. Ghana recently sought to have the issue discussed at an African Union meeting, but the proposal was rejected.

SOURCE: Reuters