South Africa repatriates 5,645 immigrants

South Africa has repatriated 5,645 foreigners since the end of xenophobia attacks in late April, its government said on Sunday.

Jeff Radebe, a minister in the presidency, confirmed this in a statement but added that the foreigners chose to leave South Africa voluntarily.

Malawians made the bulk of the foreigners, numbering 3,506, followed by Zimbabweans (1,440) and Mozambicans (682), while Tanzanians had (17).

Radebe said the repatriation process started soon after the latest spate of xenophobia violence ended in April.

“The department of social development continues to work closely with other relevant departments, as well as civil society organisations to provide support to displaced foreign nationals,” the statement read.

Radebe also said over 1,000 foreigners received trauma counselling.

The statement added that 10 women with children under 12 months, of which three had just given birth, were flown to their respective countries on their insistence.

Radebe further said the department would continue to do its work to ensure that the underlying socioeconomic issues that gave rise to tensions between South Africans and foreign nationals are dealt with.

He defended the current operation Fiela, meaning “sweep’” in Sesotho language, launched after the end of the xenophobia attacks.

He said the operation was meant to address the security challenges in a structured and coordinated manner.