By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

South Africa continues to be at a point of contention regarding the protests surrounding illegal immigration. A good amount of foreign nationals based in Cape Town firmly believe that the illegal immigration crisis could have been dealt with in a much more positive light.

Thousands of undocumented foreign nationals over the past few weeks have voluntarily returned to their home country or been deported due to the rising chaos surrounding illegal immigration.

 There have been reports from several undocumented foreign nationals from Zimbabwe and Malawi who have been repatriated from Cape Town who have expressed that they have no intention of returning to South Africa as they have stated that the process of receiving legal documentation was being prolonged as well as the harsh treatment faced in South Africa.

 “If you look at most of these people here, they’ve also wanted to get their documentation right, but we all know the situation that happens at the home affairs; it doesn’t only affect South Africans, it also affects foreign nationals that basically want to get their papers sorted.” said Zimbabwean national, Rufaro Sachiti, who has stated that he does have legal access to South Africa.

The repatriations have been a symptom of reacting to citizens of South Africa who are outraged at the lack of border control shown by the government.

 “I don’t think I’m going to try to do that again because I really want to go to Zimbabwe forever, I don’t want to be here anymore. I don’t want to come back” said Zimbabwean national, Luke Maregadze.

 “I came to Cape Town so I can go back home because I don’t have the papers. So now I must go back home. I know when I go back to Malawi, I will never come back here.” said Malawian National Dickson Master.