South Africa deports more than 53,000 migrants in sweeping immigration crackdown

South Africa has deported or repatriated more than 53,000 foreign nationals as part of a nationwide crackdown on undocumented migration, with the government insisting it will continue to enforce its immigration laws despite mounting criticism.

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said 53,449 people had been processed for deportation or repatriation by 11 July 2026.

Speaking at a media briefing, she said the majority of those affected were citizens of neighbouring Malawi, followed by Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Ms Kubayi said deportations had also extended beyond southern Africa, with 2,615 people repatriated to countries outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Those included 1,159 Nigerians, 939 Ugandans, 431 Kenyans, and 86 citizens of the Republic of Congo.

The operation is one of South Africa's largest recent efforts to tackle illegal migration, amid growing domestic pressure on the government to tighten border controls and address concerns over illegal immigration.

Defending the policy, Ms Kubayi rejected criticism from foreign governments and campaigners, arguing that South Africa had the sovereign right to determine how its immigration laws should be enforced.

"We must not have another state telling us... how we must enforce our laws. We are a sovereign state... and that right must be respected," she said.

The remarks underscore the government's increasingly firm stance on migration, an issue that has become politically sensitive as South Africa grapples with high unemployment, pressure on public services and recurring

tensions over the presence of undocumented migrants.

Rights organisations have previously warned that immigration enforcement must comply with international human rights standards, urging authorities to ensure that deportations are carried out lawfully and without discrimination.

The latest figures are likely to intensify debate both within South Africa and across the region, where freedom of movement, economic migration and border security remain contentious issues.

The government says the operation forms part of broader efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and protect the integrity of the country's borders, while maintaining that all actions are being undertaken within the framework of South African law.