JOHANNESBURG - From Bafana Bafana’s difficult return to the FIFA World Cup to ongoing efforts to tackle illegal immigration, it has been a busy week in South Africa.
Bafana Bafana’s fairytale return to the FIFA World Cup after 16 years turned into a nightmare as nine-man South Africa fell 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico.
Julian Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez found the net, while Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off in the second half.
Hugo Broos’ side managed just two shots on target after conceding early, following a colourful opening ceremony.
Broos, meanwhile, had no complaint with the red card that saw Sithole dismissed after half-time, but took issue with the dismissal of substitute Zwane late in the game.
"The first red card, I don't think we have to say something about it, but the second red card, I think the Mexican player blocked my player, the referee decides something else," he said. "So it is a pity that we have to finish this game with nine players.
"I think my team played a good game, some moments in the game Mexico was even desperate, they didn't know how to find the spaces. But we must try and be better in the next game when we have the ball."
The Home Affairs Department says it's processed 586 Nigerian nationals for repatriation after they were found to be living in South Africa illegally.
The first flight carrying 268 passengers departed on Thursday.
The department says all individuals were processed and issued with emergency travel documents by the Nigerian High Commission.
READ: Home Affairs: 66 Nigerians must cancel asylum status before repatriation
Those repatriated have been declared undesirable in terms of the Immigration Act and will be barred from entering South Africa for five years.
A second flight carrying the remaining individuals is scheduled to depart on Monday.
In total, more than 1,000 individuals have registered to be sent back ahead of the 30 June deadline.
Nigeria is the third country to voluntarily repatriate its citizens from South Africa. Ghana and Malawi also repatriated their citizens.
During the Ghana repatriation, the Ghanaian embassy denied Home Affairs' assertion that only 10 were found to have been in the country legally.
Ghana disputed the figure, saying it was inaccurate and maintaining that those on the flight had no immigration-related issues.
The issue of illegal immigration also featured prominently in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation this week.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that while many South Africans have legitimate concerns about illegal immigration, these concerns do not justify taking the law into their own hands.
He warned that undocumented migration, if left unchecked, poses risks to the country’s security, stability and economic growth.
READ: Ramaphosa: Employers could face imprisonment for violating immigration, labour laws
The president also took aim at employers who hire undocumented migrants, saying they often exploit vulnerable workers by paying below the minimum wage and denying them basic labour protections.
Ramaphosa announced that government intends to strengthen penalties for employers who violate immigration laws, including the possibility of imprisonment.
He said stricter enforcement would form part of government’s broader efforts to address illegal immigration while protecting jobs and ensuring fair labour practices for all workers in South Africa.
"We are going to increase the penalties, including imprisonment for employers who violate our Immigration Act," Ramaphosa said.