Over 109 000 illegal immigrants have been sent home since the formation of the GNU. The Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, says this is an exponential increase in yearly deportations since the Government of National Unity was formed two years ago.
“Our message remains clear: If you are in South Africa illegally, self-deport now before we find you and ban you from ever entering our country legally in future,” said Minister Schreiber.
Over 109 000 illegal immigrants sent home after GNU-formation
The minister says the marked increase in law enforcement against immigration violations demonstrates the department’s and its partners’ commitment to enforcing and restoring the rule of law. A total of 109 344 deportations were carried out over the past two financial years. Schreiber says during the first year of the current administration, the number of deportations increased by 30%. This is up from 39 672 in 2023/24 to 51,560 in 2024/25. He says this was followed by a further annual increase of 12%, to 57,784, in 2025/26.
Those who are illegally in the country should self-deport
Minister Schreiber added that over the past two financial years, deportations have surged by a cumulative 46%. This totalled 109 344 by 31 March 2026. He says these numbers show that the department is reaping the fruits of reforms focused on greater efficiency and intensified enforcement against immigration violators. Through ongoing campaigns like Operation New Broom, as well as the increasing use of biometric verification tools, they’ve already increased deportations by this number (46%).
He has advised those who are illegally in the country to self-deport. If you are found by officials and law enforcement officers, you will be banned from ever entering our country legally in future.
The deployment of drone and body camera technology
Minister Schreiber has also warned that the deployment of drone and body camera technology has already made a difference. He also shared that the impending scale-up of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system will record biometrics for every foreigner who enters the country. This will further dramatically enhance our ability to detect and arrest anyone who is in South Africa illegally.
He concluded: “While enforcement efforts are clearly yielding fruit and scaling up every year, we remain equally focused on deterrence and modernisation.”
