The Department of Home Affairs spent R552 million on detaining and deporting illegal foreigners over the past three years.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber revealed the figure in a parliamentary reply to Freedom Front MP Philip Staden.
Schreiber said the department spent R309.4 million on the detention of illegal foreigners over the last three financial years.
The detention costs were R85.8 million in 2023/24, R103 million in 2024/25 and R119.8 million in 2025/26.
He said processing costs are included in the contractual cost of the service provider managing the Lindela Holding Facility.
Deportation costs also rise
Schreiber said deportation costs totalled R242.7 million over the same period.
The department spent R67.6 million on deportations in 2023/24.
That increased to R101.7 million in 2024/25 before dropping to R73.3 million in 2025/26.
The minister also said 151 121 foreign nationals were deported over the past three years.
The figures come as political pressure grows over the cost of foreign nationals in South Africa’s prison and immigration systems.
MK Party raises prison concerns
Schreiber’s reply comes after the MK Party raised concerns about foreign nationals in South African prisons.
The party said there were 13 266 sentenced foreign national prisoners and 14 614 awaiting-trial foreign nationals in correctional facilities.
MK Party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu estimated the cost to the state at between R463 and R500 per prisoner per day.
The party said this could amount to R11.7 million a day, R350 million a month and R4.2 billion a year.
It called for a repatriation programme for foreign national prisoners and prisoner exchange agreements with neighbouring countries.
Inspections intensified nationwide
Home Affairs also said it participates in business inspections involving foreign nationals.
Responding to ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni, Schreiber said the department focuses on verifying the status of shop owners and employees.
He said inspections are conducted with SAPS, the Department of Employment and Labour and municipal law enforcement agencies.
Transgressors are arrested and charged under the Immigration Act.
Schreiber said 1 538 law enforcement operations were conducted in 2023/24 and 3 105 inspections were carried out in 2024/25.
He said workplace immigration compliance has been intensified through multi-agency inspections, expanded capacity and tougher legal penalties.
The government is also establishing specialised courts to speed up immigration-related prosecutions and deportation processes.