Ireland has deported 42 South African nationals living in its country without legal documentation, the Irish Department of Justice has announced.

They announced this through an official press release supported by statements from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), describing it as part of a “large‑scale immigration enforcement operation”.

According to the Irish authorities, the move forms part of the government’s “....determination to enforce immigration law and to ensure that those who have no legal basis to remain in Ireland are returned to their country of origin.”

How the exercise was done

The illegal South Africans were removed on a chartered flight; and they include (9) nine men, 18 women and 15 children, departed from Dublin Airport on Thursday afternoon and arrived in South Africa on Friday morning. The children were all deported as part of family units.

Their removal was carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau following deportation orders issued by the Irish authorities.

Irish authorities said two of the deportees had criminal records in the country.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan stressed that while the vast majority of South Africans in Ireland reside there lawfully, immigration rules must be enforced. He said deportations form part of efforts to ensure the integrity of the immigration system and sustain public trust in its administration.

The individuals have since arrived in South Africa.

The deportation of the South African nationals comes at a time when the South Africans are attacking foreign nationals, whether documented or undocumented, to move to their home countries, citing that these nationals have taken over their livelihoods, such as job opportunities.

Consequently, they launched a violent xenophobic attacks on other nationals including Ghanaian nationals which prompted government to embark on a massive evacuation exercise.

So far, Ghana has evacuated a total of about 979 nationals from South Africa following the xenophobic attacks, with three separate batches of returnees arriving in Accra between late May and early June 2026.

Ghana suspends evacuation exercise

Ghana announced a temporary suspension of the repatriation registration exercise in South Africa, effective Tuesday, June 2. The High Commission of the Republic of Ghana to South Africa has confirmed.

The Commissioner communicated this in a formal notice yesterday, Monday June 1 citing that the move has become necessary to allow his outfit complete the screening of the growing number of people who have currently registered for the evacuation back home.

As at the time the Commission issued the notice, it indicated that over 1,500 Ghanaians had registered with his outfit waiting to be airlifted.

“The High Commission of the Republic of Ghana to South Africa wishes to inform all Ghanaians residing in South Africa that registration for the ongoing voluntary repatriation exercise will be temporarily suspended with effect from 2nd June, 2026.

The temporary suspension is to enable the High Commission and the Home Affairs authorities to process and screen the large number of applications already received. To date, over 1,500 Ghanaians have registered, and the verification and processing of these applications are currently underway”, parts of the statement read.

It assured affected parties to exercise patience, noting that the exercise hasn’t ended.

“The date for the next phase of registration will be communicated in due course. The High Commission further wishes to assure all interested Ghanaians who have not yet registered that the repatriation exercise has not ended. The High Commission appreciates the cooperation, patience, and understanding of the Ghanaian community in ensuring a well-coordinated exercise”, it continued.