The South African government says it has deported or repatriated more than 53,000 undocumented foreign nationals in the past five weeks as part of a nationwide immigration enforcement campaign.
According to BBC, the Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi said 53,499 migrants, mostly from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, had been processed for deportation, adding that the exercise is ongoing.
The operation follows weeks of anti-immigration protests, with demonstrators blaming undocumented migrants for unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.
Kubayi said the government would continue enforcing immigration laws while respecting the human rights and dignity of all individuals. She also warned citizens against conducting illegal searches of homes or businesses suspected of sheltering undocumented migrants.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned attacks on migrants and urged South Africans to allow security agencies to enforce the law.
The United Nations has cautioned against using migrants as scapegoats for the country’s economic and social challenges.
Tags: South Africa, Deportation, Immigration, Africa
