The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has called on the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to ensure full compliance with financial and procurement requirements following approximately R341 million in expenditure incurred during the deportation and repatriation of foreign nationals after the heightened anti-illegal-immigration protests in June 2026.
The committee made the call during an engagement with the DHA and the Border Management Authority to scrutinise expenditure related to the increased immigration enforcement, deportation and repatriation operations.
The DHA informed the committee that its inspectorate’s annual budget was depleted during the intensified deportation process. As a result, the Chief Financial Officer authorised the overriding of the requirement that sufficient budget be available before an order could be issued, allowing the supply chain management office to proceed with the issuing of purchase orders.
According to the department, approximately R341 million was spent on activities associated with the deportation process. This included:
- R232 million for buses used to transport foreign nationals;
- R8 million for chartered flights;
- R13 million for overtime; and
- R48 million to establish the Musina repatriation site.
The committee expressed concern about the procurement processes followed, particularly after being informed that the department was, in some instances, unable to obtain three quotations because of the exceptionally high demand for buses. The committee urged the DHA to initiate internal audit processes to establish whether all procurement complied with the applicable policies, procedures and legislation.
Concern over unforeseen expenditure
The committee also raised concerns about the financial implications of unforeseen expenditure arising from the 30 June anti-illegal-immigration protests and the subsequent increase in immigration enforcement, deportations and repatriations.
The department informed the committee that it had submitted a request to National Treasury for R292 million in unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure. However, the committee expressed concern about the potential impact on the department’s programmes if the request is not approved. Committee Chairperson Mr Mosa Chabane warned that the absence of an express guarantee that the expenditure would be reimbursed creates a significant financial risk for the department.
“This is an untenable situation considering the importance of the Department of Home Affairs and its plans to improve services to the population,” said Mr Chabane.
The committee emphasised that any extraordinary expenditure must be properly accounted for and managed within the applicable legislative and financial framework.
Countries urged to share deportation costs
The committee has further urged the DHA to work closely with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to engage with the countries concerned on mechanisms for sharing or recovering the costs associated with the deportation of their nationals.
The committee said stronger cooperation between the two departments would be important in ensuring that the financial burden associated with deportations does not fall disproportionately on the South African government, while ensuring that immigration enforcement operations remain effective and compliant with the law.
Malatswa Molepo
26 August 2026
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