By Charmaine Ndlela
The first group of Ghanaian nationals left South Africa from O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday as part of a voluntary repatriation process arranged by the Ghanaian government, as tensions continue to flare over undocumented migrants.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, only 10 out of the 300 individuals screened before departure were found to be legally in the country.
Home Affairs’ Immigration and Law Enforcement Head Stephen van Neel told the SABC that the majority of those processed were undocumented, had overstayed, or had violated immigration laws.
“Of the 300 individuals that were on that list, we only found 10 of them being legal in the country, the rest of them are illegal without documents or actually not complying or have overstayed, but there are some sanctions that need to be taken, and the Department of Home Affairs will indeed make sure those are implemented,” Van Neel said.
There has been a renewed wave of anti-illegal immigration mobilisation in South Africa, where March and March has organised demonstrations in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban calling for tougher action against illegal foreign nationals. Some of those protests have resulted in the intimidation of legal and illegal foreign nationals and attacks.
Human Rights Watch said last week that vigilante groups had carried out “violent xenophobic attacks” against African and Asian foreign nationals, with an “insufficient response” from police and other authorities.
Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe have warned their citizens in South Africa to remain alert.
Some Ghanaian nationals who had been held at the Lindela Repatriation Centre were also expected to be placed on the flight back to Ghana.
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, wrote a welcoming statement on X, saying: “Ghana wishes our cherished citizens a safe flight from South Africa. We cannot wait to warmly welcome you all to our beloved nation.”
Speaking during a streamed speech, he also said: “You’re not going to arrive in Ghana as if you’re orphans. You will return to a hero’s welcome.”
He said returnees will receive a comprehensive support package, including financial assistance on arrival, transport to their destinations within Ghana, reintegration allowances, psychosocial support services, and placement on a special database for employment and business start-up opportunities.
Ablakwa said more than 800 Ghanaians have registered to return home and that the passenger screening process is underway for the second group to return.
