Immigration checks reveal only 10 of 300 Ghanaians in SA legally
· The South African
Immigration officials at OR Tambo International Airport say they found that only 10 out of 300 Ghanaian nationals who presented themselves for repatriation were legally in South Africa.
This finding contradicts earlier assurances by Ghana’s High Commissioner, Benjamin Anani Quashie, who had indicated that all those who registered for voluntary return were in the country legally.
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Officials say the discrepancy will trigger enforcement measures against those who violated immigration laws.
“We obviously have to make sure that certain sanctions are enforced,” an immigration official said.
First group of Ghanaians departs after delays
The first group of Ghanaian nationals departed on Wednesday after hours of delays caused by document verification.
Head of Immigration and Law Enforcement at Home Affairs, Stephen van Neel, said officials worked overnight to verify the passenger list but could not meet the scheduled 4am departure time.
“It was important for us to go through a process of verification and checks and make sure that those departing are indeed people we can allow to leave,” he said.
Van Neel said officials had initially expected 300 passengers to depart but had to amend the list after compliance checks.
“After working through the night, we found that only ten of the three hundred individuals were in the country legally. The rest are undocumented or have overstayed,” he said.
He added that those who overstayed their visas would face bans under the Immigration Act.
Safety concerns drive voluntary return
Quashie confirmed that more than 800 Ghanaians had registered for voluntary repatriation. He said many chose to leave despite not being directly attacked, citing safety concerns.
“The responsibility of any government is towards its citizens,” he said.
“While we have excellent relations with South Africa, we had no option but to ensure that our citizens are safe.”
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the repatriation plan on 18 May, with departures initially scheduled for 25 May.
The Ghanaian government offered transport assistance within Ghana, reintegration allowances, psychosocial support, and access to job and start-up databases for returnees.
Protests prompt repatriation plan
The repatriation follows renewed anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa.
Groups, including Operation Dudula, have taken to the streets, demanding the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
The organisation has set a 30 June deadline for undocumented migrants to leave, warning of a possible national shutdown.
In response, Ghana moved to assist its citizens in returning home. Quashie previously estimated that about 16 000 Ghanaians live in South Africa.