South Africa Deports 2,694 Mozambicans Amid Crackdown

Since January, South Africa has deported a total of 2,694 Mozambicans, with the latest removals including 485 individuals deported on Wednesday and 144 on Thursday at the Ressano Garcia border post, which is the busiest crossing between the two countries. Juca Bata, a spokesperson, stated that the deportations are not a response to xenophobic attacks but are strictly focused on immigration violations.

The South African authorities have intensified enforcement operations in recent years due to ongoing concerns about the high number of undocumented migrants living and working in the country. South Africa continues to be a major destination for economic migrants from Mozambique and Zimbabwe, driven by employment opportunities in sectors such as mining, agriculture, and construction.

However, the country struggles to manage irregular migration, and recent crackdowns have been influenced by political pressure to tighten border control amid economic stagnation and high unemployment rates, exacerbated by recurrent outbreaks of xenophobic violence.