PRETORIA, Gauteng — Escalating South Africa repatriation costs have forced Pretoria to formally demand financial reimbursement from Malawi, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. After spending nearly R300-million to deport approximately 75,000 foreign nationals in a highly compressed timeframe, the Department of Home Affairs is now scrambling to offset the massive, unbudgeted fiscal blow.
The rapid execution of these border enforcement measures has created what officials are calling a historic logistical undertaking. Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber emphasized the extraordinary nature of the deportations, pointing out that moving between 74,000 and 75,000 individuals back to their home countries within such a narrow window is a statistically unprecedented event for the nation.
However, this aggressive enforcement strategy was not accounted for in the annual fiscal allocations. Addressing the financial fallout, Home Affairs Director-General Livhuwani Makhode labeled the massive expenditure an “unfunded mandate.” Makhode explained that neither his department nor the various partner agencies involved in the crackdown had allocated budgetary resources for an operation of this sheer magnitude, leaving a severe hole in the department’s finances.
Faced with a heavy budgetary shortfall, the department has pivoted to international diplomacy to balance the books. Utilizing the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) as an intermediary, Pretoria has issued formal requests for the affected nations to cover the travel and administrative expenses of their citizens.
Makhode confirmed that official correspondence has been directed to the central government of Malawi, alongside the diplomatic embassies representing Nigeria and Ethiopia, outlining the reimbursement demands.
While awaiting feedback from these foreign capitals, the department acknowledges that the ongoing deportation program remains a heavy financial anchor. Consequently, Home Affairs is simultaneously lobbying the National Treasury for domestic fiscal support to help bridge the gap left by the R300-million shortfall.
