By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South Africa is asking several other African governments to repay Johannesburg for the cost of sending tens of thousands of their citizens back to their various countries.
The request comes after South Africa “assisted” in repatriating over 80,000 immigrants, following violent protests against illegal immigration.
The country has spent nearly $18 million accommodating and transporting immigrants who demanded to return to their home countries, South Africa’s Home Affairs department told lawmakers on Tuesday during a briefing.
The foreign ministry has sent written requests to Malawi, Ethiopia and Nigeria, demanding compensation, officials said.
The money covered buses to transport the immigrants, temporary repatriation centres and staff overtime, among other expenses. Tommy Makhode, the director-general of the Home Affairs department, described the costs as “unforeseen and unavoidable.”
Some municipalities and government departments involved in the repatriation are demanding compensation from the Home Affairs department, since the costs were not earlier budgeted for.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has described the recent volume of repatriations and deportations as unprecedented.
The departures have come during heightened tensions over immigration in South Africa.
Anti-illegal migration groups have held protests, and some attacks on foreign nationals have strained relations with other African governments.
The groups blame migrants for high unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.
Some countries in the region have accused the South African government of failing to protect its citizens, an accusation the government has denied.
South African law enforcement officials said last week they would intensify operations targeting illegal migration and related offenses.
They said they had arrested nearly 60,000 people who are in the country illegally, including 16,208 arrested in July alone.
