BMA Processes 300 Ghanaians For Repatriation At OR Tambo
The Border Management Authority has confirmed that 300 Ghanaian nationals were processed for repatriation from South Africa to Ghana at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday.
BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said the group was processed as part of a repatriation operation facilitated by the Ghanaian government through its High Commission in Pretoria.
According to the BMA, 25 of the Ghanaian nationals came from the Lindela holding facility and were brought by the Immigration Inspectorate of the Department of Home Affairs. The remaining 275 were brought by the Ghanaian High Commissioner.
During the check-in and immigration process, the BMA said about 90% of the travellers were found to be undocumented. The Ghanaian Embassy then issued Emergency Travel Certificates to affected travellers. These are one-way documents that allow travellers to return to their country of origin.
The BMA further stated that most of the travellers had overstayed in South Africa by more than 30 days, while some had overstayed by a year or more. As a result, they were declared undesirable in terms of Section 30 of the Immigration Act, read with Regulation 27(3)(c) of the Immigration Regulations.
At the end of the processing, 295 passengers were found eligible to depart. They boarded a chartered flight arranged by the Ghanaian government through its High Commission in Pretoria and departed for Ghana.
However, five travellers were refused departure.
According to the BMA, one passenger had a valid asylum seeker permit and could not be allowed to depart without cancelling his application for protection in South Africa. The BMA said allowing him to leave without cancelling the application would have been tantamount to refoulement.
Another passenger was denied departure because he did not have a valid travel document. The BMA said he was in possession of an expired passport and had not been issued an Emergency Travel Certificate by the Embassy.
A woman was also stopped from leaving the country with two minor children who are understood to belong to her sister. According to the BMA, she did not have documents proving her relationship to the children, nor the required consent documentation from the alleged parent.
The travellers who were denied departure were handed back to the Ghanaian High Commissioner for future repatriation once they meet the relevant immigration requirements.
Commissioner Masiapato said the operation demonstrated the BMAโs commitment to enforcing South Africaโs immigration laws while facilitating the legitimate movement of people and goods.
โThis decisive action underscores the BMAโs uncompromising implementation of the South African legislative framework in its facilitation and management of people and goods movement in and out of the country,โ Masiapato said.
