South Africa repatriated over 2700 foreigners in one week

(Johannesburg, general news) South African Interior Minister Schreiber said that after President Ramaphosa vowed to take tougher measures against illegal immigrants, the South African government repatriated 2,745 foreigners within a week.

As one of the largest economies in Africa, South Africa has long attracted migrant workers from all over the continent, including illegal immigrants. With an unemployment rate exceeding 30%, it has sparked strong anti-immigrant and xenophobic sentiments within the country. Recently, anti-immigrant demonstrations have erupted across South Africa, and even mobs have taken to the streets threatening foreigners without residence permits to leave the country within a certain time limit.

Due to some enterprises being robbed and foreigners becoming the targets of attacks, the security situation has become increasingly severe. Citizens from Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have decided to accept the voluntary repatriation organized by their respective governments for safety reasons. The South African government said that the majority of those who voluntarily returned were illegal immigrants.

The South African government not only targets illegal immigrants, but also has begun to impose more severe punitive measures, such as imprisonment, on enterprises and employers that employ illegal workers. According to statistics, there are currently approximately 3 million foreign residents in South Africa, accounting for 5.1% of the total population.