The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that hundreds of Nigerian nationals found to be living in South Africa illegally have either been repatriated or are scheduled to leave the country within days as part of an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, confirmed that 268 Nigerians departed South Africa on Thursday morning, while a further 586 have been processed for repatriation and are expected to leave on a second flight scheduled for Monday, 15 June.
According to the department, all those affected were residing in the country illegally and were issued Emergency Travel Documents by the Nigerian High Commission to facilitate their return to Nigeria. They will also be facing other consequences.
“In accordance with the Immigration Act, all affected individuals have been declared undesirable persons and are consequently prohibited from reentering South Africa for a period of five years,” read the department’s statement.
The group forms part of nearly 1,000 Nigerians who registered for voluntary repatriation.
The Department of Home Affairs thanked the Nigerian High Commission for its cooperation during the documentation and repatriation process.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and a Federal Government delegation welcomed the first group as they arrived in their home country on Thursday.
NIDCOM Joins FGN Delegation to Welcome First Batch of 262 Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa
Fully Funded by President Bola Ahmed TinubuAbuja, 11th June 2026
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) joined a high-powered Federal Government delegation to welcome the… pic.twitter.com/EkIpT2xOy6
— Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) June 11, 2026
“We want our citizens who wish to return home to have that opportunity.”
— Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-OjukwuNigeria says arrangements are underway to assist citizens who want to leave South Africa, with the government coordinating documentation and evacuation… pic.twitter.com/3IgV6pVB3U
— Business Insider Africa (@BusInsiderSSA) June 11, 2026
Schreiber said the Home Affairs Department remains committed to enforcing immigration laws, noting that it would continue efforts to modernise South Africa’s immigration and identity systems to further improve the department’s enforcement capabilities.
“Our reform agenda as recently affirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, including the ongoing scale-up of the Electronic Travel Authorisation to record biometrics for every foreigner entering our country, the replacement of the fraud-prone Green ID Book with Smart ID cards through our digital partnership with the banks, and the introduction of a cutting-edge Digital Identity system, are systematically enhancing our capacity to enforce immigration laws. In this context of ongoing progress, the public is again urged to never engage in violence or take the law into their own hands.”
The department reminded all foreign nationals living in South Africa to ensure they hold valid visas or other authorisations for them to remain in the country legally.
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