Home Affairs says 37,942 undocumented foreign nationals deported at R463.9m cost

The Department of Home Affairs detained and deported 37,942 undocumented foreign nationals between 1 January and 31 August 2026, and government expenditure on detention and repatriation for that period totalled about R463.9 million, the department told Parliament.

Numbers disclosed in parliamentary reply

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber disclosed the figures in a parliamentary reply to MK Party MP Siyabonga Percival Mkhize. The department said it could only account for numbers of undocumented foreign nationals detained and deported by Home Affairs itself.

“The Department of Home Affairs can only account for the number of undocumented foreign nationals detained and deported, and not arrests conducted by other law enforcement agencies.”

Countries of origin

Of the 37,942 foreign nationals detained and deported by Home Affairs between 1 January and 31 August, the largest groups were from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho.

• Zimbabwe: 12,407
• Malawi: 10,725
• Mozambique: 9,548
• Lesotho: 4,435

Together those four countries account for 37,115 of the deportations recorded by the department.

Wider processing and the Musina centre

The figures disclosed by Home Affairs did not include what the department described as “vast numbers” of people processed by Home Affairs for repatriation. The department said that, following an increase in undocumented foreign nationals seeking assistance at temporary sites, repatriation operations were intensified in June.

Between 14 June and 20 August about 86,596 foreign nationals were processed for deportation and repatriation through coordinated law enforcement operations. The Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre in Limpopo, established in June to assist with processing, processed 48,948 people before it closed in August.

Cost breakdown: detention and repatriation

The department reported total detention expenditure of R122.68 million for January to August. The highest monthly detention bill was recorded in April at R45.2 million, followed by May at R17.66 million and February at R11.6 million.

Repatriation expenditure was recorded between June and August at R341.22 million, bringing the combined detention and repatriation costs disclosed to about R463.9 million.

Main repatriation items listed

• R232.83 million for buses supplied by Atlantis
• R48 million for establishment and operation of the Musina centre by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
• R10.66 million paid to the City of eThekwini for transport to Musina
• R3.8 million to the City of Cape Town for transport and facilities at Epping
• R8.76 million for chartered flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Burundi
• R9.56 million for accommodation in Durban and Musina
• R14.55 million for travel and subsistence, venues and other supplies

The department said it had reimbursed the Cities of eThekwini and Cape Town for the buses provided.

“It is important to note that the Department has reimbursed the Cities of eThekwini and Cape Town for the buses provided,”

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure had not yet submitted its claim for the cost of establishing and maintaining the Musina temporary processing centre, the department said.

Who bears the costs

The Department of Home Affairs said the costs of repatriating undocumented foreign nationals were being carried by the South African government.

“During the recent period, the costs associated with repatriation were borne by the South African Government.”

The department added that engagements with relevant countries were undertaken where appropriate to assist with identifying, documenting and returning their nationals, but that such cooperation did not necessarily result in those countries reimbursing South Africa for repatriation costs.