No panic departure of foreign nationals

AS ANTI-IMMIGRANT sentiment continues to simmer, deadlines set by anti-illegal immigration groups approach, and government intensifies enforcement against undocumented migrants, questions have emerged about whether South Africa could see a significant departure of foreign nationals.

- KAREN SINGH

However, despite high-profile repatriation operations and reports of growing social tensions, evidence suggests that a large-scale exodus of foreign residents has yet to materialise.

International organisations, often regarded as key indicators of voluntary or forced migration trends, report no notable increase in requests from migrants seeking assistance to return home.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it has not received any formal requests for assisted voluntary returns from South Africa. Similarly, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported no increase in the number of refugees seeking to return to their countries of origin this year.

“So far this year, we have not seen an increase in requests from refugees to return home,” the UNHCR noted, emphasising that it continues to support only safe, informed, and voluntary repatriations.

Nevertheless, regional governments are responding to concerns about rising tensions. Nigeria has announced plans to repatriate more than 1 000 of its citizens from South Africa, while Ghana has already facilitated the return of hundreds of its nationals.