As South Africa faces the daunting challenge of an estimated 3 million immigrants – representing about 5.1% of the country's population – authorities are stepping up their efforts to combat illegal migration, a situation complicated by economic and social concerns.
home department has been active over the past two years, deporting more than 109,000 undocumented immigrants in an effort to manage the growing number of individuals living in the country without legal status.
The department said the increase in deportations since the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) reflects a decisive shift in immigration control, driven by intensified operations, stricter enforcement and the deployment of advanced surveillance technologies.
Data released by the department shows deportations are set to rise by 30% from 39,672 in 2023/24 to 51,560 in 2024/25, before increasing by 12% to 57,784 in 2025/26, a cumulative increase of 46% over the two years, taking the total to 109,344 by the end of March.
This week, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the figures reflected the impact of intensive enforcement and operational reforms.
“These figures show that we are now reaping the fruits of reforms focused on greater efficiency and intensified enforcement against immigration violators. Through ongoing campaigns such as Operation New Broom, as well as the increased use of biometric verification tools, we have already increased deportations by 46%.
“Our message is clear: if you are in South Africa illegally, self-deport before we find you and ban you from legally entering the country in the future.”
The action comes amid increasing pressure on South Africa's immigration system, as enforcement becomes increasingly costly and complex. Government figures show that almost R80 million was spent on deportations in the 2024/25 financial year alone.
At the same time, border officials continue to stop thousands of people attempting to enter the country illegally, with nearly 10,000 people stopped at ports of entry in just one quarter of 2025.
Schreiber said the department is increasing its focus on deterrence and modernization, pointing to the increased use of technology to strengthen immigration controls.
He said, “While enforcement efforts are clearly bearing fruit and growing each year, we are equally focused on deterrence and modernisation. The deployment of drones and body camera technology is already making a difference, while the coming scale-up of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system will see biometrics recorded for every foreigner entering our country, dramatically increasing our ability to detect and arrest anyone who is in South Africa illegally. Will happen.”
South Africa is facing intense migration pressure, with deportations at record levels. According to Statistics South Africa, the number of immigrants is approximately 3 million, while it is estimated that between 500,000 and 1 million people may live in the country without legal documentation.
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