South Africa says it has deported or repatriated more than 53,000 foreign nationals in the five weeks since launching a nationwide migration enforcement campaign, with officials indicating the total is expected to rise as operations continue. Get today's headlines by email Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said on Sunday that 53,499 people had been processed for deportation or repatriation. She said most were from Malawi, followed by Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The campaign is one of South Africa's largest efforts in recent years to remove undocumented migrants and comes after weeks of anti-immigration protests across parts of the country. Government Reports Mass DeportationsDemonstrators have called for stricter border controls and the mass deportation of undocumented migrants, arguing they contribute to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services. Some activist groups have threatened to continue holding weekly protests until the government meets their demands. There are concerns that further demonstrations could become violent after earlier protests were marked by intimidation, looting and attacks targeting migrants. Protests Drive Pressure on GovernmentProtest organisers had also declared an unofficial deadline of 30 June for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa. The climate of fear has prompted many foreign nationals to leave the country, while governments including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya have arranged flights to repatriate their citizens. Government Stresses Human RightsSpeaking at a news conference in Pretoria, Kubayi said the government was seeking to maintain an orderly migration system while respecting the rights of everyone living in the country. "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," she said. Kubayi added that the deportation process had also led to the arrest of individuals wanted by police for alleged criminal offences. She said immigration laws would continue to be enforced but warned protesters against carrying out unauthorised searches of homes or businesses suspected of sheltering undocumented migrants. UN Warns Against Scapegoating MigrantsThe United Nations has cautioned against blaming migrants for South Africa's economic and social problems, warning that they should not be made scapegoats for the country's challenges. President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged public concerns over immigration while condemning attacks on foreign nationals. He has urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands. South Africa, the continent's largest economy by industrial output and one of its wealthiest nations, has long attracted migrants seeking better economic opportunities, with some entering the country illegally. Join the discussion? 13 July 2026
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