DHA: R341-Million Repatriation Spending Detailed To Parliament

• The Department of Home Affairs has spent R341-million on the repatriation and deportation of foreign nationals since June 2026.
• Approximately 100,000 foreign nationals have left South Africa, with 90,000 voluntarily repatriated and 10,000 deported.
• The largest expenditure, R233-million, was for buses transporting individuals fleeing xenophobic violence.
• The Refugee Appeals Authority faces a backlog of 161,000 refugee appeals, citing operational and capacity challenges.
• The DHA is pursuing reimbursements from other countries through diplomatic channels for the repatriation costs.

A substantial portion of this DHA R341-million repatriation spending, nearly 70%, was allocated to transportation.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has incurred substantial costs, totaling R341-million, for the repatriation and deportation of foreign nationals since June 2026. This significant expenditure facilitated the departure of approximately 100,000 individuals from South Africa, a process largely driven by a humanitarian crisis stemming from xenophobic violence and the activities of the anti-immigrant group March and March. The details of this spending were presented to Parliament's Home Affairs portfolio committee during a recent session.

A substantial portion of this DHA R341-million repatriation spending, nearly 70%, was allocated to transportation. Gordon Hollamby, the Chief Financial Officer for Home Affairs, confirmed that the highest single expenditure was R233-million, specifically for buses used to transport these foreign nationals. Beyond direct transport, R48-million was channeled to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) for the establishment of temporary repatriation facilities in Musina, which have since been decommissioned.

Further financial outlays included reimbursements to local government entities. The eThekwini municipality received R10.7-million for its role in providing transport services to Musina, while the City of Cape Town was reimbursed R3.8-million for transport and the provision of repatriation facilities in Epping. Additional costs encompassed overtime and accommodation for government officials, chartered flights to countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, and various expenditures incurred at the provincial level.

The mass movement saw about 100,000 foreign nationals leave South Africa since June, with the majority departing via the Beitbridge border post in Musina. Zamachonco Chonco, the Chief Financial Officer of the Border Management Authority, provided a breakdown, indicating that 90,000 individuals were voluntarily repatriated between May and August, while another 10,000 were deported from April to July. Among those voluntarily repatriated, a significant number returned to Malawi, accounting for 54,000 individuals, and Zimbabwe, with 28,000 returnees.

DHA CFO Gordon Hollamby underscored the urgent nature of the operation, describing the assistance from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and metropolitan municipalities as crucial support for the department, undertaken "as part of the humanitarian crisis given the scale and urgency of the project." The immense workload on DHA personnel was also highlighted, with officials reportedly working "horrendously long hours," leading to the approval of R13-million in overtime payments.

In an effort to mitigate the financial burden on the South African fiscus, DHA Director-General Tommy Makhode informed the portfolio committee that the department is actively pursuing reimbursements from other countries. These efforts are being conducted through "diplomatic channels," with the DHA having formally requested assistance from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to facilitate these recoveries.

While the DHA managed the large-scale repatriation efforts, related administrative bodies continue to grapple with significant challenges. Representatives from the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs and the Refugee Appeals Authority (RAA) appeared before Parliament, offering apologies for their unprepared presentations, though they noted previous engagements with the legislative body. A critical issue highlighted during an earlier 18 August meeting was the substantial backlog of refugee appeals.

Zilpha Raphesu, chairperson of the RAA, revealed that the authority is contending with 161,000 outstanding refugee appeals. These appeals are processed by the RAA after an initial asylum application has been rejected by the DHA. The backlog is further categorized into 71,000 active appeals and 90,000 inactive appeals, the latter signifying cases that have either been abandoned or remained dormant for an extended period.

Several factors contribute to this persistent backlog, including operational challenges within the RAA, frequent postponements of appeal hearings, and a notable lack of in-house interpretation services. The complexity of many appeal cases, coupled with broader capacity problems, further exacerbates the situation, underscoring systemic issues within the asylum management framework.

Source: Reporting based on parliamentary committee disclosures.