No panic departure of foreign nationals

AS ANTI-IMMIGRANT sentiment continues to simmer, deadlines set by anti-illegal immigration groups approach, and government intensifies enforcement against undocumented migrants, questions have emerged about whether South Africa could see a significant departure of foreign nationals.

However, despite high-profile repatriation operations and reports of growing social tensions, evidence suggests that a large-scale exodus of foreign residents has yet to materialise.

International organisations, often regarded as key indicators of voluntary or forced migration trends, report no notable increase in requests from migrants seeking assistance to return home.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it has not received any formal requests for assisted voluntary returns from South Africa. Similarly, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported no increase in the number of refugees seeking to return to their countries of origin this year.

‘‘So far this year, we have not seen an increase in requests from refugees to return home,’’ the UNHCR noted, emphasising that it continues to support only safe, informed, and voluntary repatriations.

Nevertheless, regional governments are responding to concerns about rising tensions. Nigeria has announced plans to repatriate more than 1 000 of its citizens from South Africa, while Ghana has already facilitated the return of hundreds of its nationals.

The Border Management Authority (BMA) recently facilitated the departure of 300 Ghanaian nationals via OR Tambo International Airport, followed by a major operation at the Lebombo Port of Entry, where 933 Mozambican nationals were processed for return. Ghana repatriated about 300 of its citizens last month. Yesterday, another 336 people flew back to Accra, while a third group of 334 returns home today.

International relations expert André Thomashausen said that against a realistic estimate of at least seven million foreign nationals residing in South Africa, the recorded departures or ‘‘repatriations’’ of a few hundred are not significant.

‘‘The message, however, is clear that migrants are increasingly unwelcome in South Africa, where they are finding it more and more difficult to make a living,’’ he said.

Thomashausen said the real issue is the dramatically declining ability of the South African government to implement policies and to deliver basic administrative functions.

‘‘As South Africa’s leadership continues to pursue opulent wealth and ostentation as its sole aspiration, law enforcement and public service will remain despondent and demotivated to intervene in the migration crisis,’’ he said.

A statement on the Cabinet meeting of June 3 and the Special Cabinet meeting of May 13, said Cabinet received and approved a comprehensive approach to migration in South Africa, developed by the Inter-ministerial Committee on Migration, and also approved the National Action Plan (NAP) Country Report on Migration in South Africa.

‘‘The president will address the nation on this matter,’’ said the statement.

Regarding the planned national shutdown linked to March and March set for June 30, calling for the removal of undocumented foreign nationals from South Africa, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during a post-cabinet meeting briefing on Friday, said that South Africans have the right to protest and march as provided for by the Constitution, but do not have the right to take the law into their own hands.

‘‘As we have indicated before, there’s nobody who’s going to do a shutdown of this country, and we must be very clear about that.’’

According to Ntshavheni, President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver an address providing specifics on the coordinated efforts regarding migration.

She said this work, which has been referenced in prior briefings, parliamentary debates, and statements from the criminal justice cluster, involves ongoing collaboration across various departments.

‘‘Government has been for the longest time seized with work to deal with migration, and we have been consolidating that work, but we’ll leave the details of this comprehensive approach to be explained and outlined by the president to the nation,’’ said Ntshavheni.

Speaking this week in Parliament, Ramaphosa said the challenge of migration needs to be addressed.

‘‘When it is well managed and regulated, migration can help to drive economic growth and opportunity for all. However, we need to deal with illegal migration. We have seen how illegal immigration into our country can put pressure on our public services and undermine our efforts to create decent work for all.’’

He said, as announced in the State of the Nation Address, the government is taking decisive action to address this challenge.

‘‘They must also respect the rights of every person in our country, and our laws must be upheld. We must never give in to violence, to xenophobia, and to vigilantism,’’ said the president.

The embassies of Malawi, Ghana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Kenya were approached for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.