Political parties have condemned the Department of Home Affairs for spending millions to deport illegal immigrants, with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) saying the R52.8 million spent to deport 19 000 illegal immigrants is a clear indication of government’s failure to address the causes of South Africa’s broken immigration system.
Earlier this week, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed that his department has spent R52.8 million deporting illegal foreigners – just over 19 000.
PARTIES SLAM HOME AFFAIRS FOR MILLIONS SPENT DEPORTING ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS
The Red Berets said South Africa’s borders were barely manned, leaving the country exposed to migration while border officials in many cases have become complicit in perpetuating the crisis through corruption.
“The money spent on deportations could be far better used to create a system that actually works. We need a robust well-funded border management system that ensures we know who is entering and leaving the country,” the party said.
“The current system of sporadic deportations is nothing more than a band aid on a gaping wound. If the government continues on this wasteful path, South Africa will spend billions without ever addressing the core issues,” it added.
Likewise, the African Transformation Movement (ATM), agreed with the EFF that the Department of Home Affairs needs to prioritise and address the issue of corruption within its ranks.
The party said this move would not only save money but also ensure that the country’s immigration policies are implemented fairly and consistently.
“The R52 million used to deport 19 000 illegal immigrants in just five months could have been better allocated to strengthening border management and preventing unauthorised entries, rather than merely reacting to the symptoms of a deeper problem.
“Furthermore, we demand that those countries from which the illegal immigrants originate must be held accountable and pay back the money spent on deportations,” ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona said.
ACTIONSA ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF PRIORITISING IMMIGRANTS
ActionSA also joined in the chorus of parties condemning Home Affairs for the skyrocketing cost of deportation – an average of R2 700 per individual.
The party said this was a slap in the face to law-abiding citizens, as it reveals the devastating consequences of porous borders and a government unwilling or unable to enforce its own laws.
ActionSA chief whip Lerato Ngobeni said South Africans are not just footing the bill for deportations. The taxpayer is forced to absorb the cost of clothing, feeding, and housing illegal immigrants, even providing free healthcare to those who have brazenly violated our laws.
“To add insult to injury, South Africans are paying for foreign language interpreters in court when these immigrants stand trial for their crimes. This is a disgrace – these costs should be borne by the foreign missions of their home countries, not hard-working South Africans.
“It is a national scandal that our government is spending R2 700 to deport an illegal immigrant while only allocating R2 180 for old-age pensions and a meagre R530 for child support grants. This reveals the government’s warped priorities — catering to those who break our laws while neglecting the needs of our most vulnerable citizens,” she said.
BORDER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
In 2022, then-Home Affairs minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi launched the Border Management Authority (BMA) which is South Africa’s new, single authority for border management with a single command and control, established through the Border Management Authority Act of 2020.
Although the BMA has made some progress, it is reportedly under funded and short staffed.
Apart from that, some BMA staff have also been arrested for allegedly granting undocumented migrants access to South Africa and for allegedly issuing fraudulent identity documents.
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