South Africa repatriations top 25,000

Cape Town: South African security authorities said Monday that more than 25,000 foreign nationals have been sent back to their home countries in recent weeks as anti-immigrant tensions continue to build ahead of planned protests.

The departures have accelerated as thousands seek to leave over safety concerns after citizen-led groups issued an unofficial deadline of June 30 for undocumented foreigners to quit the country. Several governments, including those of Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, have arranged voluntary return flights and bus transport for their nationals.

According to the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, or NATJOINTS, the repatriation effort has expanded sharply from figures released last week, when authorities said 15,000 Malawians had been processed. The same body said at least 988 Ghanaians and around 600 Nigerians had already left by air earlier this month.

The latest movements come after weeks of protests, looting and attacks directed at foreigners, in which four people have been killed. NATJOINTS, which brings together police, the military and intelligence agencies, said the operation was continuing and that specialist teams, including K9 units and the Air Wing, had been deployed.

NATJOINTS said the process was still under way, with additional foreign nationals awaiting departure as the security response remains in place.