Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Irish government has deported 42 South African nationals who were residing illegally in the country, transporting them to Johannesburg at a cost of €735,000 (approximately $845,000) for the operation.
According to The Irish Times, the group comprised 9 men, 18 women, and 15 children travelling as family units.
They departed from Dublin Airport on a charter flight on Thursday and arrived in South Africa on Friday morning. The flight was Ireland’s fourth large-scale deportation charter operation this year.
The deportations were carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau under existing deportation orders. Such orders are issued to individuals found to be living unlawfully in Ireland and who do not choose to return voluntarily to their country of origin.
The Irish authorities also revealed that two of the deported individuals held prior criminal convictions in Ireland.
While Ireland legally categorises South Africa as a safe country of origin, citizens can only qualify for international asylum if they present documentary proof demonstrating a direct threat to their safety back home.
Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan emphasised that while the majority of South Africans in Ireland maintain legal status, compliance with immigration frameworks remains a strict priority.
“Our immigration system must be rules-based and robust,” O’Callaghan was quoted as saying. “The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure there is public confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.”
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said the reported €735,000 cost of Thursday’s mass deportation operation represents only a preliminary estimate, with the final figure expected to be determined once the invoicing process is completed.
He further revealed that the charter flight was Ireland’s fourth deportation operation of 2026.
The three previous flights resulted in the removal of 130 individuals from the country, including 67 EU nationals deported on criminality-related grounds.
The latest deportations highlight a growing migration challenge for South Africa, which continues to grapple with a complex two-way flow of people.
While the country remains a major destination for migrants from across Africa, an increasing number of South Africans are also seeking opportunities abroad, with some ultimately falling afoul of immigration laws in their host countries.
