South Africa began the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian nationals on Thursday as the country faces renewed anti-migrant tensions and stepped-up immigration enforcement.
The first flight carrying 268 undocumented Nigerians departed Johannesburg in the morning after receiving emergency travel documents from the Nigerian High Commission, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs said.
The group is part of a larger cohort of 586 Nigerians who have agreed to return home voluntarily, with a second flight scheduled for June 15.
Home Affairs officials said all those repatriated had been declared “undesirable persons” under South African immigration law and would be barred from re-entering the country for five years.
The departures come after weeks of heightened tensions in several South African communities, where anti-migrant groups have organised demonstrations demanding the removal of foreign nationals from informal settlements, business districts and mining areas.
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Some protests have turned violent, reviving memories of earlier waves of xenophobic attacks that killed dozens of people and displaced thousands across South Africa over the past two decades.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the repatriations were part of a broader effort to enforce immigration laws and restore public order.
“Immigration enforcement must remain a lawful state-led process,” Schreiber said, urging residents not to take matters into their own hands through vigilantism.
He said deportations and repatriations had increased by 46 percent over the past two years as the government tightened controls on irregular migration.
South Africa has introduced a series of reforms aimed at modernising border management and identity systems, including the expansion of the Electronic Travel Authorisation programme, the replacement of the old Green ID Book with Smart ID cards and the rollout of a new digital identity platform.
The government says the measures are designed to improve security, reduce fraud and speed up immigration processing.
However, rights groups have warned that tougher enforcement risks further stigmatising migrants and asylum seekers, many of whom fled economic hardship or conflict in neighbouring countries.
Nigerians are among the largest foreign communities in South Africa, where they are active in sectors ranging from retail trade to hospitality and technology. Their presence has often been at the centre of heated political and public debates about immigration, crime and competition for jobs.
South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised economy, has long attracted migrants seeking work and business opportunities. But persistent unemployment, inequality and pressure on public services have fuelled resentment toward foreigners, especially during periods of economic stress.
Xenophobic violence has erupted periodically since the end of apartheid, most notably in 2008 and 2015, when attacks on foreign-owned businesses and migrant communities spread across major cities.
Analysts say the latest tensions reflect a mix of economic frustration, political rhetoric and weak local governance.
The Nigerian High Commission has not publicly criticised the repatriation programme, but diplomats have previously urged South African authorities to ensure the safety and dignity of Nigerian nationals during immigration operations.
Officials from both countries have sought in recent years to improve cooperation on migration, trade and security after several diplomatic spats linked to xenophobic incidents and drug trafficking allegations.
For many of those boarding Thursday’s flight, the return journey marks the end of years spent trying to build a life in South Africa.
Home Affairs officials said the repatriation process was voluntary and carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
South Africa’s government has repeatedly stressed that it remains committed to legal migration and regional integration, while insisting that undocumented migration must be addressed through lawful channels.
