South Africa Deports Nearly 3,000 Foreigners in One Week Amid Anti-Immigrant Violence

South Africa Deports Nearly 3,000 Foreigners in One Week Amid Anti-Immigrant Violence

South Africa repatriated 2,745 foreigners in a single week following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to crack down on illegal immigration, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced on Sunday. The surge in deportations comes as anti-immigrant violence sweeps parts of the country, forcing thousands to flee.

A Country Under Pressure

South Africa, one of Africa’s largest economies, has long been a destination for migrant workers from across the continent. But with an unemployment rate exceeding 30%, the country has repeatedly seen waves of anti-immigrant unrest — and the latest outbreak is among the most intense in recent memory.

Armed mobs have marched through neighbourhoods, ordering undocumented foreigners to leave by June 30. Businesses were looted and foreigners targeted, triggering a security crisis that has sent shockwaves across the region.

Who Is Leaving — and Why

The repatriations were coordinated through voluntary-return programmes with foreign embassies. According to official figures, the breakdown includes:

Officials noted that some individuals left because they lacked valid documents, while others departed simply because they no longer felt safe. Minister Schreiber described the total as “a moving target,” suggesting the number could rise further.

Violence Turns Deadly

Tensions reached a breaking point after two Mozambicans were killed following a May 29 anti-immigrant march in Mossel Bay, in the Western Cape. Mozambican authorities put the death toll at five.

President Ramaphosa acknowledged public frustration over illegal immigration but drew a firm line. He warned that authorities would not tolerate anyone taking the law into their own hands.

Real People, Real Consequences

Behind the statistics are personal stories of hardship. A 25-year-old woman told AFP she had lived in South Africa for three years, only to face threats even inside a displacement camp. Hassan Hasha, 27, said he had barely arrived in the country before the violence erupted. “I have resigned myself to going home,” he said.

Laina Nala, from Mangochi in southern Malawi, had one simple request: to be dropped as close to her home as possible.

Part of a Longer Crackdown

This week’s wave of deportations is not an isolated event. An April 2026 report revealed that the Department of Home Affairs had deported more than 109,000 undocumented immigrants over the previous two years, pointing to a sustained tightening of enforcement policy.

South Africa is home to more than three million foreigners, representing 5.1% of the population, according to the national statistics agency. The government confirmed it has no plans to establish refugee camps, even on a temporary basis.