Kempton Park – A group of 340 Ghanaian nationals departed South Africa on Sunday aboard a chartered flight arranged by the Ghanaian government, following a repatriation operation at OR Tambo International Airport that saw Border Management Authority officials process 331 travellers brought to the airport by the Ghanaian High Commission.
Among those processed, 117 were travelling on Ghanaian ordinary passports, while 90 held Emergency Travel Certificates issued by the Ghanaian High Commission in Pretoria. An additional 37 minor children born in South Africa were also processed using Emergency Travel Certificates.
During verification, 170 travellers were found to have overstayed their permitted period of stay in South Africa by 30 days or longer and were consequently declared undesirable under Section 30 of the Immigration Act, read together with Regulation 27(3)(c) of the Immigration Regulations. A further 25 asylum seekers voluntarily submitted withdrawal letters to cancel their asylum applications during the process.
The final departure group of 341 passengers included 10 deportees brought by the Department of Home Affairs from the Lindela Holding Facility. One traveller did not check in, leaving 340 who boarded the chartered flight.
BMA Commissioner Dr Masiapato commended the Port Management Committee and all officials involved in facilitating the operation and encouraged foreign missions to continue working closely with relevant government departments to ensure the smooth and lawful management of repatriation movements.
“The successful processing of these repatriation movements reflects the importance of coordinated efforts between foreign missions and South African authorities. Such cooperation contributes to effective migration management while ensuring compliance with the country’s immigration laws,” Masiapato said.
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