Mashaba: Stranded undocumented migrants should be returned to their home countries, not South Africa

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has said that undocumented foreign nationals left stranded after deportations should be assisted by their countries of origin rather than by South Africa, and that his party would deport undocumented migrants if it came to power, according to IOL.

Who said what

According to IOL, Mashaba said that South Africa should not be expected to take responsibility for people returned to the country by authorities. He told IOL:

“It is not South Africa’s problem. Let it be the problem of those countries. It’s not our problem.”

According to IOL, Mashaba also said:

“South Africa is not a place to harbour criminals because people who came into our country illegally are criminals.”

“No one can expect South Africa to take over or allow other countries to outsource their problems to us. So if South Africa dumps them at Musina or anywhere else, it becomes their respective country’s problem.”

According to IOL, Mashaba emphasised that South Africa was receiving migrants from outside the continent and said:

“I want the people of South Africa and the world to know that South Africa is not only dealing with illegal migrants from Africa. We’re dealing with illegal immigrants from as far afield as Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China and many other countries.”

Policy promise: deportations if elected

According to IOL, Mashaba said that if ActionSA were given a mandate to govern, the party would move to remove people who are in South Africa illegally and those who obtained citizenship fraudulently. He told IOL:

“If South Africans give us the mandate to govern, we are going to make sure that those who are in our country illegally, and those who acquired South African citizenship fraudulently, are dealt with. We will fight to revoke those citizenships and ensure they are returned. We want to see mass deportations.”

Context on arrivals and repatriation centres

The comments come as hundreds of migrants continue to arrive at the Musina Repatriation Centre amid intensified deportations and voluntary repatriations. The increase followed the closure of the Durban Repatriation Centre, according to IOL.

According to IOL, some foreign nationals have been deported or have voluntarily returned to countries including Mozambique and Malawi, while others have been left stranded without the means to return.

Political backdrop

Mashaba has been publicly outspoken on immigration for some time, and his remarks come amid growing protests and political debate over illegal immigration in South Africa. According to IOL, anti-migrant groups have called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.

Reporting by IOL provided the quotes and details used in this article.