Illegal foreign nationals remain at the centre of South Africa’s immigration enforcement push, after the Department of Home Affairs said it carried out 109 344 deportations over the past two financial years, reports Cape {town} Etc.
Since the formation of the GNU, Home Affairs has carried out 109 344 inland deportations – excluding direct deportations by the BMA at the border. The 57 784 deportations in the past year is a 46% increase from 2023/24, affirming our commitment to restoring the rule of law 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/tnjYZuOo82
— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) April 9, 2026
The department said the total rose from 36 672 in 2023/24 to 51 560 in 2024/25, before climbing again to 57 784 in 2025/26.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the department was ‘restoring the rule of law’ and said it was ‘reaping the fruits of reforms’ after stronger action against immigration violations.
He said Operation New Broom and biometric verification had helped push deportations up by 46% over the two-year period.
Before daybreak this morning, I was on the ground as Operation New Broom swept through Sandton, Johannesburg, arresting dozens of illegal immigrants for deportation. We continue to scale up enforcement, including through the use of drones and biometrics, to restore rule of law 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/jZDwPh9W7E
— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) April 9, 2026
The Immigration Act, 2002 requires landlords and employers to exercise due diligence, as knowingly accommodating or employing undocumented foreign nationals may constitute aiding illegal residence and could lead to fines or imprisonment upon conviction.
Schreiber also warned people living in South Africa unlawfully to leave before they are detained.
‘If you are in South Africa illegally, self-deport now,’ he said, adding that those deported could face barriers to re-entering the country legally in future.
The department said it will keep scaling up enforcement through drones, body cameras and the planned Electronic Travel Authorisation system, which it says will record biometrics for every foreigner entering South Africa.
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Picture: John Moore / Gallo Images
