By: Bright Ntuli
The Border Management Authority (BMA) says 295 out of the 300 Ghanaian nationals who accepted their government’s voluntary repatriation offer were cleared to depart South Africa on a chartered flight from OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday.
The repatriation process follows growing tensions over illegal immigration in parts of the country, amid fears of a resurgence in xenophobic violence and attacks targeting foreign nationals.
More than 800 Ghanaians are understood to have registered for voluntary evacuation, with the first group departing Johannesburg this week after the Ghanaian government facilitated a charter flight back to Accra.
BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said officials processed the passengers in conjunction with the Department of Home Affairs and the Ghanaian High Commission.
According to the BMA, around 90% of those processed were found to be undocumented, non-compliant with immigration laws or had overstayed their visas. Many were issued Emergency Travel Certificates by the Ghanaian Embassy to allow them to return home.
BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi said five Ghanaian nationals were prevented from boarding the flight for various reasons, including failure to produce valid travel documents and the absence of valid asylum seeker permits.
One traveller was reportedly stopped because leaving the country while holding a valid asylum seeker permit could amount to abandoning an active protection application. Another passenger travelling with two children was unable to provide the necessary parental consent documentation.
Home Affairs Immigration and Law Enforcement head Stephen van Neel said only 10 of the 300 individuals processed were found to be legally in South Africa. Authorities indicated that those who overstayed their visas could face sanctions under the Immigration Act, including possible restrictions on re-entering the country.
The Ghanaian government has described the operation as a voluntary repatriation programme aimed at assisting citizens who no longer feel safe amid rising anti-immigration protests in South Africa.
