The South African government held a media briefing today to provide updates on its comprehensive approach to managing migration and border security.

These measures come as the administration attempts to address rising anti-immigrant sentiment across the country. The strategy involves a coordinated effort between multiple government branches to enforce immigration laws and maintain public order.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration led the briefings, which occurred on June 14 and June 26 [1, 2]. The committee is headed by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and includes representatives from the departments of Home Affairs, Defence, Small Business Development, and the South African Police Service (SAPS) [1].

Government data indicates a significant increase in enforcement actions this year. More than 40,000 illegal foreign nationals have been arrested since the beginning of 2026 [3]. In the past month alone, authorities made more than 7,400 arrests [3].

Beyond arrests, the government is focusing on the removal of individuals without legal status. Officials said that 2,745 foreign nationals have been repatriated to their home countries [4].

The committee's comprehensive migration-management plan aims to balance legal enforcement with the need to mitigate social tensions [1, 5]. The government is utilizing the Inter-Ministerial Committee to ensure that the various departments, from police to justice, are aligned in their execution of these policies [1].

“Over 40,000 illegal foreign nationals have been arrested since the beginning of 2026”

The surge in arrests and repatriations suggests a shift toward a more aggressive enforcement posture by the South African government. By utilizing an inter-ministerial approach, the state is attempting to synchronize police action with legal processing and diplomatic repatriation to manage both the logistics of migration and the political pressure stemming from anti-foreigner sentiment.