Millions spent on deporting illegal immigrants, Motsoaledi reveals

Source: News 24, 01/01/1970

The increased number of arrests of illegal immigrants would have resulted in releases if the deportations were not implemented.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says they are struggling to recoup the cost incurred in returning illegal immigrants to their countries.

The government has spent more than R20 million on deporting illegal immigrants this year and recouping the costs incurred in returning illegal immigrants to their home countries have become near impossible.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed this in response to a written parliamentary question from DA MP Joe McGluwa.McGluwa wanted details on the reasons for the overspending on immigration and deportation-related issues in the 2019/20 financial year.`What are the costs incurred by his department on the deportation of immigrants in the specified financial year? Whether any monies have been recouped from the countries of the deported immigrants; if not, what is the
position in this regard and if so, what are the relevant details?` McGluwa`s questions read.

Motsoaledi`s reply read: `The increased number of arrests of illegal immigrants would have resulted in releases if the deportations were not implemented. The deportations costs incurred by the department was R23 329
354.82 in [the] 2019/20 financial year.`

Asked about recouping funds from other countries, he said the country`s policy position of recouping the costs incurred in returning illegal immigrants to their countries of origin is the subject of ongoing bilateral discussions.
`All countries have to date indicated a lack of funds in relation to this. In the Southern African Development Community [SADC] and South America, consular services in foreign missions such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique,
Brazil and Venezuela are actively involved in assisting the deportees to source funds for self-payment from their relations. The assistance also extends to the purchase of bus and flight tickets by the consular officers.`
Self-deportation costs by foreign nationals were R5 634 165.20, Motsoaledi added.

Recently, the department has been dealing with several foreign issues.
During his budget mini-plenary, he announced a home affairs official based in Windhoek had been fired after being caught allegedly fraudulently issuing visas to Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens.

The department revoked 100 visas after the secretary for civics and immigration services based in South Africa`s mission in Windhoek was busted for allegedly selling the visas to non-qualifying citizens.
Motsoaledi said the scheme was simple and fraudsters did not even have to travel to Namibia to get these documents. It was couriered to them and `delivered on a silver platter`.He described the incident as high-treason and accused the official of selling the country to the highest bidder.

Motsoaledi is not the only minister who has had to deal with issues affecting immigrants and foreign nationals.Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu announced last month the government had allocated an extra R6 billion to fund the R350 special Covid-19 grant for those without an income as well as asylum seekers and special permit holders.

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria granted a court order that permit holders and asylum seekers should be included in the grant.
Zulu said the department had amended the directives to accommodate asylum seekers and special permit holders from Angola, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, as directed by the court.
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