The Border Management Authority has announced that 300 citizens from Ghana were prepared for repatriation from South Africa to Ghana at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday.
BMA Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato noted that this group was processed as part of a repatriation initiative supported by the Ghanaian government through its High Commission located in Pretoria.
As per the BMA, 25 of the repatriated individuals originated from the Lindela holding facility, having been transported there by the Immigration Inspectorate of the Department of Home Affairs. The remaining 275 were accompanied by the Ghanaian High Commissioner.
During the immigration and check-in procedures, the BMA reported that around 90% of the individuals lacked proper documentation. Consequently, the Ghanaian Embassy issued Emergency Travel Certificates to those impacted. These certificates are one-way documents enabling travellers to return to their homeland.
The BMA indicated that a majority of the individuals had overstayed their visas in South Africa by over 30 days, with some exceeding a year. This resulted in their classification as undesirable under Section 30 of the Immigration Act, in conjunction with Regulation 27(3)(c) of the Immigration Regulations.
Upon completion of the processing, 295 individuals were deemed eligible to leave. They boarded a chartered flight organized by the Ghanaian government through its High Commission in Pretoria to travel back to Ghana.
However, five individuals were not permitted to depart.
The BMA explained that one traveller possessed a valid asylum seeker permit and could not leave without withdrawing their protection application in South Africa. The BMA emphasized that allowing this individual to depart without cancellation of the application would equate to refoulement.
Another individual was barred from exiting due to an expired passport, as they had not received an Emergency Travel Certificate from the Embassy.
Additionally, a woman was prevented from leaving with two minors who are believed to be her sister’s children. The BMA stated she lacked documentation to validate her relationship to the children and did not have the necessary consent from the alleged parent.
Those who were denied departure were returned to the Ghanaian High Commissioner for future repatriation once they satisfy the required immigration criteria.
Commissioner Masiapato remarked that this operation highlights the BMA’s dedication to upholding South Africa’s immigration laws while ensuring the legitimate movement of people and goods.
“This decisive action underscores the BMA’s uncompromising implementation of the South African legislative framework in its facilitation and management of people and goods movement in and out of the country,” Masiapato said.
