South African Govt Sends Over 5000 Foreigners Out of The Country

South Africa has repatriated 5,645 foreigners since the end of xenophobia attacks in late April, the government said on Sunday, May 17, 2015.

Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, who said this in a statement, added that the foreigners chose to leave South Africa voluntarily.

Malawians made up the bulk of the foreigners, numbering 3,506, followed by Zimbabweans (1,440) and Mozambicans (682), while Tanzanians had (17).

Radebe said the repatriation process started soon after the latest spate of xenophobia violence ended in April.

“The Department of Social Development continues to work closely with other relevant departments, as well as civil society organisations to provide support to displaced foreign nationals,’’ Radebe said.

Radebe also said over 1,000 foreigners received trauma counseling.

According to the statement, 10 women with children under 12 months of which three had just given birth were flown to their respective countries on their insistence.