In a nation where we’re already stretched thin with load shedding, potholes, and the usual “is it your turn to do the dishes?” debate, South African taxpayers have another thing to worry about: the cost of deporting illegal immigrants.
In response to parliamentary questions, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber revealed that the South African government spent a whopping R52.8 million to deport 19,750 illegal immigrants between April and August this year. That works out to about R2,670 per person. Seems like a small price to pay to send someone packing, but imagine if we spent that on fixing roads or sorting out our public healthcare system?
Looking at the bigger picture, since January 2022, over 83,000 deportations have been carried out, costing taxpayers R193 million. That’s R2,305 per person. Schreiber also made it clear that deportations are ongoing, but no one seems to be keeping track of how many more are in the pipeline.
So, while we can debate the social and economic impacts of these deportations, one thing is clear: it’s not a cheap exercise. And in a country where every cent counts, you have to wonder – could those millions be better spent elsewhere? Or is this just another way to make sure the “illegals” aren’t over-staying their welcome?
Let’s keep an eye on those numbers. Or better yet, take a long look at how we can make the whole process more efficient. We could certainly do with a little more bang for our buck, especially when that buck is coming straight from our pockets!
Source Info: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/sa-taxpayers-fork-out-r2-670-plus-per-person-to-deport-illegals/