Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and IMC Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi announced Sunday that exactly 53,449 foreign nationals had been processed as of the close of business on July 11.
Image: GCIS
As pressure mounts over illegal immigration and border security, the government says more than 53,000 foreign nationals have already been processed for deportation and repatriation as part of an intensified migration enforcement drive.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration announced that it is strengthening immigration enforcement while tightening border security and migration management systems.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and IMC Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi revealed on Sunday that exactly 53,449 foreign nationals had been processed as of the close of business on 11 July 2026.
Kubayi was briefing the media on the government's progress in implementing President Cyril Ramaphosa's five-point plan on migration management, first announced on 7 June.
The strategy focuses on cracking down on immigration law violations, securing South Africa's borders, streamlining the immigration system, closing gaps in existing policy, and strengthening cooperation with neighbouring countries.
The update comes in the wake of anti-illegal immigration protests held across several provinces, where demonstrators called for tighter border security measures and mass deportations.
While acknowledging that many South Africans have genuine concerns about unemployment, service delivery failures and public safety, Kubayi stressed that such concerns must be addressed through lawful channels.
“In implementing this plan, we are striving to achieve an orderly and regular migration which is mindful and sensitive to the concerns raised by our people while observing human rights and dignity of all people in our country, irrespective of their citizenship and immigration status,” Kubayi said.
The minister issued a strict warning against private citizen groups conducting unauthorized searches of homes and businesses suspected of harboring undocumented individuals.
"Media reports both domestically and internationally indicate that there are still groups of protesters who conduct searches around homes and businesses that are suspected to house undocumented immigrants," Kubayi noted. "This is illegal, and members of the community who are part of these activities are warned to refrain from such conduct."
She reiterated that immigration enforcement, border management, and deportations remain the exclusive responsibility of the State. "No individual or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands or to intimidate, threaten, or unlawfully remove any person from any community. Our law enforcement authorities will not hesitate to act against those who continue to conduct these unlawful searches and identity checks."
To date, authorities have registered 205 cases and arrested 350 people for migration-related unlawful conduct, intimidation, and incitement. Sixty-nine cases remain under active investigation, while 112 are already before the courts.
Kubayi also highlighted the recent high-profile arrest of Mkhanyisi Ndodana Tshuma, a fugitive wanted in the United Kingdom for the alleged murder of his wife and two children.
Tshuma arrived at OR Tambo International Airport from Britain on 5 July and was subsequently arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, after South African authorities received an Interpol alert. Though British authorities had not flagged Tshuma upon his departure, a multidisciplinary South African law enforcement team successfully tracked him down.
"I wish to commend our SAPS and Interpol for the arrest of Mr. Mkhanyisi Ndodana Tshuma," Kubayi said, adding that Tshuma will be extradited to the UK as soon as she signs off on the formal request.
Addressing common confusion, Kubayi clarified the legal distinctions between the state's two primary return mechanisms:
Repatriation: A voluntary return to a person's country of origin, strictly governed by international law (including the 1951 UN Convention). Government assisted with this process after Malawi experienced funding shortages for repatriation buses starting 14 June.
Deportation: A formal, lawful legal process under Section 34 of the Immigration Act through which the government expels non-citizens who have contravened South African law.
Malawian nationals accounted for more than 80% of the total 53,449 processed individuals, followed closely by citizens of Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Repatriations to non-SADC (Southern African Development Community) nations totaled 2,615. This included 1,159 individuals returned to Nigeria, 939 to Uganda, 431 to Kenya, and 86 to the Republic of Congo.
Standard immigration deportations have continued alongside the assisted repatriation program:
April 1 – June 30
15,398Supported by 2,519 joint law enforcement operations
June
4,898Malawi (1,929); Zimbabwe (1,384); Mozambique (1,200); Lesotho (342)
June 14 – July 8
2,801Overlapping intensified enforcement window
"South Africa remains committed to enforcing its immigration laws, strengthening border management, protecting communities, combating crime, and upholding the dignity and rights of all people," Kubayi concluded.
She urged the public to report criminal activity directly to the police rather than taking vigilante action, and appealed to communities to stop sharing unverified information online that could fuel violence or social unrest.
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