Gauteng: In a demonstration of government's resolve to deal decisively with illegal migration, the Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration embarked on a visit to the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Gauteng. The centre serves as a facility for undocumented migrants and foreign nationals awaiting either verification of their status or deportation from South Africa.
According to South African Government News Agency, the IMC is led by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) and constituted by various departments, including Home Affairs, the SA Police Service, Small Business Development, Department of Defence, International Relations (DIRCO), Employment and Labour, Basic Education and Higher Education and Training. During the visit to the facility on Friday, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi emphasized that the visit is part of the IMC's efforts to ensure that the reports received on illegal migration during IMC meetings correlate with the work on the ground.
Minister Kubayi stated that the visit aimed to assess the facility's capacity and understand the demands and issues that need to be addressed. She highlighted that the centre is intended for short-term stays, ideally not more than 48 hours, and called for cooperation with embassies to expedite the verification process. She also stressed the importance of inter-departmental collaboration to enhance the centre's operational efficiency, particularly between Correctional Services and Home Affairs.
Additionally, Minister Kubayi noted the need for upgrades to the facility's court to meet minimum standard requirements and requested assistance from the Minister of International Relations to address non-responsive embassies, particularly those of Ethiopian and Nigerian nationals. The government, through DIRCO, is also pushing for the inclusion of those at the centre in voluntary repatriation lists, as Lindela is the only such facility in the country.
Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia addressed the issue of violent protests and the intimidation of undocumented foreign nationals, emphasizing that enforcing immigration laws is the state's responsibility, and urging legal action against those taking the law into their own hands. He condemned the incidents of lawlessness and assured that the government is determined to address criminality.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson reiterated the importance of observing the rule of law in migration matters, while President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a recent address, highlighted that South Africans are not xenophobic, cautioning against groups exploiting immigration concerns to incite violence. The IMC reported that over 40,000 illegal foreign nationals have been arrested since the beginning of 2026, with intensified efforts to tackle illegal immigration and strengthen border security.