Home Affairs has successfully repatriated 568 Nigerians living illegally in South Africa.
Reporting by The South African link has revealed that 568 Nigerian nationals have been voluntarily repatriated from South Africa after being found to reside illegally in the country. South African Home Affairs facilitated the process, with the first group of 268 individuals departing on a Thursday morning flight. The remainder are scheduled to leave on Monday, 15 June 2026.
Emergency Travel Documents Issued
The Nigerian High Commission played a important role by issuing Emergency Travel Documents to all individuals involved in the repatriation process. This cooperation was acknowledged and appreciated by Home Affairs, ensuring the smooth departure of the affected individuals back to Nigeria.
Declared Undesirable Under Immigration Act
All repatriated individuals have been declared undesirable persons under South Africa's Immigration Act, effectively barring them from re-entering the country for a period of five years. Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber emphasized the department's commitment to enforcing immigration laws, noting that deportations and repatriations have surged by 46% over the past two years.
Asylum Status Cancellations
Among those repatriated, 66 individuals were required to cancel their asylum status before leaving South Africa. Stephen van Neels, head of immigration enforcement, indicated that this situation raises questions about the legitimacy of some asylum applications. The Nigerian Embassy reported that approximately 1,000 people initially registered for the voluntary repatriation program, but only 568 received approval from South African authorities.
Regional Repatriation Efforts
Nigeria joins a list of countries participating in voluntary repatriation programs from South Africa. Previously, Malawi repatriated its citizens using two buses departing from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape.
This development underscores ongoing regional efforts to address illegal immigration and ensure compliance with national laws.