More than 53,000 foreign nationals have been expelled or repatriated from South Africa in recent weeks, as tensions over migration continue to affect the country. The announcement was made on Sunday 12 July 2026 by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, which said most of those affected were Malawian nationals.
Although tensions have eased since the anti-migrant protests that peaked on 30 June, sporadic demonstrations and door-to-door operations targeting undocumented migrants are still being reported in several areas.
Large-scale repatriation operations
During a government briefing, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said a temporary repatriation processing centre had been established in Musina, near the border with Zimbabwe, and had been operational since 1 July. “More than 20,000 foreign nationals have been repatriated through this centre,” she said.
The operations have also involved several African countries. Congo-Brazzaville recently joined the countries that have organized flights to bring their citizens home, evacuating more than 150 nationals in early July.
Anti-migrant actions continue
Despite government warnings, some anti-migrant groups continue to carry out actions against foreign communities. Jurol Loemba, an activist and member of the Congolese evacuation committee, said some foreigners were still facing attacks. “On the ground, we see certain groups continuing actions in the homes of foreigners. We are still recording cases of people being attacked during these marches,” he said.
Authorities have warned South Africans involved in such actions that they could face consequences, although police intervention has so far remained limited. Since 30 June, around 20 marches linked to migration issues have been recorded across the country.
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