The government of South Africa has unveiled plans to recover the cost of deporting undocumented foreign nationals by charging their home countries, including Nigeria.
The policy, disclosed by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, is part of broader efforts to tighten immigration enforcement amid rising anti-migrant sentiment.
Authorities indicated that countries whose citizens violate immigration laws will be required to cover expenses related to detention and repatriation.
Officials said the move follows a surge in deportations, with over 100,000 undocumented migrants expelled in the past two years, placing significant financial pressure on the state.
“Going forward, governments will be billed for their nationals who are deported or held in detention pending removal,” the department stated.
The development comes as several African nations intensify evacuation efforts for their citizens. Nigeria recently repatriated hundreds of its nationals, while Ghana and others have also facilitated large-scale returns.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the crackdown, stressing that enforcing immigration laws remains a matter of national sovereignty.
He added that only authorised state institutions are permitted to act against illegal migration, warning against unlawful actions by private groups.
The proposed policy is expected to spark diplomatic engagement across the continent, particularly over its financial and political implications.
