More than 2,700 foreigners were repatriated from South Africa within one week or left for their countries of origin. (Photo: Rajesh Jantilal/AFP)
More than 2,700 foreigners were repatriated from South Africa within one week or left for their countries of origin themselves, after pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the government will take stricter action against people who are in the country illegally.
Interior Minister Leon Schreiber said on Sunday that the numbers had risen rapidly since the president’s announcement of tougher action against illegal immigration.
“By Saturday evening, the figure stood at 2,745 people who had already left the country or been sent back since the president’s speech.
“It is a figure that is constantly changing.”
Tensions over immigration are running high
South Africa, one of Africa’s largest economies, has for years attracted illegal immigrants to the continent, some legally and others without valid documents.
However, the country is struggling with an unemployment rate of more than 30%, which further fuels the tension over illegal immigration.
In recent weeks, tensions have boiled over in various parts of the country, with groups of people marching with sticks, whips and shields and telling foreigners without valid residency to leave the country by June 30.
The violence and unrest has caused citizens from Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to decide instead to voluntarily return to their home countries, with their own governments making the arrangements.
According to authorities, the majority of the people sent back were without valid documents in South Africa.
Thousands of Malawians in Durban
About 7,000 Malawian citizens gathered in an open field in Durban in recent days amidst increasing tension and fear.
The Malawian government sent eight buses to take its citizens back, while South Africa made another ten buses available to speed up the process.
According to Max Biwi, Malawi’s consul general, about 560 people, including about 200 children, boarded the first buses on Sunday.
Many of them left with few possessions.
‘It’s better than living in fear’
Fortunate Chilenje (25) from Blantyre in Malawi says she is relieved to finally go home after living in South Africa for three years.
“I’m relieved we’re finally leaving. It’s better than living here in fear.
“The threats followed us everywhere. We no longer felt safe. I decided it was better to go back than to be afraid all the time.”
Another passenger, Laina Nala from Mangochi, says her biggest concern is the last part of her journey.
“I just want to get as close to my home as possible. Blantyre is far and it costs a lot of money to travel further from there,” she said.
Debt and uncertain future
For 27-year-old Hassan Hasha, the decision to return was not easy.
He says he had barely stayed in South Africa for a few weeks when the tension began to rise.
“I still have debts related to my trip here, but I have resigned myself to the fact that I must go back.
“I didn’t stay here long enough to improve my situation, and now things have changed.”
No camps for refugees
Meanwhile, the government has emphasized that no refugee camps are being operated in South Africa and that there is also no plan to set up temporary camps.
This follows after large groups of people gathered in open spaces and informal shelters for fear of further violence.
Ramaphosa last week acknowledged that there was public concern about illegal immigration, but warned that no one should take the law into their own hands.
Lethal violence is a cause for concern
The tension further increased after incidents of violence in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape, where two Mozambican citizens died on 29 May after a march against illegal immigration.
However, Mozambican authorities claim that five of their citizens have died in the unrest.
The incidents caused great concern abroad and several countries have already started to assist their citizens to return home.
More than three million foreigners in SA
According to Statistics South Africa, more than three million foreigners currently live in the country – about 5.1% of the population.
Against the background of high unemployment, economic pressure and increasing tension over illegal immigration, the debate on immigration in South Africa remains high on the agenda.
Meanwhile, the process of sending people back or arranging their own return continues, while the numbers change daily.