By Staff Reporter
The Home Affairs Department continues to increase the number of illegal immigrants deported out of the country, with figures tripling over the last five years.
A total of 46,898 people were deported for the 2024/25 financial year, which is an 18% increase compared to the previous year.
“This marked increase in the effectiveness of enforcement operations demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rule of law,” said Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber.
“It also flows from improved collaboration between the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, the South African Police Service and local law enforcement. It further reflects the impact of joint initiatives like Operation Vala Umgodi.”
The department said the deportations for the previous year exceeded the number of deportations conducted by France (22,000) and Germany (20,000) over the same period.
The total number of deportations for the past five years are as follows:
- 2020/21: 14,859
- 2021/22: 20,093
- 2022/23: 22,560
- 2023/24: 39,672
- 2024/25: 46,898
“The fact that Home Affairs now performs more than double the number of deportations conducted in a country like France, which has the highest rate of deportations in the European Union, sends a clear message to offenders that the days of impunity are over,” the minister said.
This improved performance, coupled with the department’s digital transformation reforms that would automate entry-and-exit to prevent people from entering the country illegally through the ports of entry, was contributing to enhanced national security and trade facilitation, he said.
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