STEVEN MANN, Cape Town | Thursday 6.30pm.
THE number of illegal immigrants coming into South Africa has spiralled over recent years and the home affairs department does not have sufficient money to repatriate them.
Over the past six years, the number of illegal aliens sent home had risen from 70000 a year to more than 180000, Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi told Parliament on Thursday in his Budget vote speech.
“The previous financial year budgetary allocation was not sufficient to defray legal costs. In the current financial year, the entire amount was spent in the first three months,” he said.
Buthelezi said the long-term solution lay in the setting up of immigration courts, simplifying laws and training specialised official.
In response to a parliamentary question, Buthelezi said South Africa had only one repatriation centre which was situated in the Krugersdorp area and had capacity for 3000 people.
The centre is privately run by Dyambu Operations, and the depart pays it a daily rate to accommodate aliens. Last year it was paid more than R9-million.
Several high-ranking ANC officials have been linked to Dyambu, including Buthelezi’s deputy Lidiwe Sisulu and deputy speaker Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile.