Mozambique’s consul general, Isaac Matola, says there is a large number of undocumented Mozambican nationals living in South Africa.
Speaking at the Undocumented Foreign Nationals Summit in Durban, Matola has said officials are compiling a database of undocumented Mozambican citizens in KwaZulu-Natal.
The information will be combined with data from other provinces and submitted to authorities in Pretoria.
Matola says the Mozambican government will then use the database to develop a repatriation programme for citizens who wish to return home. He says his country also battles with illegal immigration.
“In Mozambique, we have illegal immigration too. Then we can’t support illegal immigration in other countries – South Africa as well, our neighbour country. I’m from Mozambique. Mozambique is bordering to South Africa.”
At the Summit on Foreign Nationals today, hosted by Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli.
Migration challenges are complex and cannot be addressed in isolation. They demand collective action, policy alignment, and respect for the rule of law.#GrowingKZNTogether #KZNWorks #DareToDream pic.twitter.com/219SqDLG1f
— MEC Meyer (@MeyerMecKZN) June 25, 2026
Meanwhile, Bangladesh High Commissioner Shah Ahmed Shami says he does not believe there are any Bangladeshi citizens living illegally in South Africa. Shami says Bangladesh does not support illegal migration.
Shami adds that, should any of his country’s citizens be found to be in South Africa unlawfully, the government would be willing to facilitate their return home.
“We need to work with the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Justice and boarder management to make sure we develop those relations and surely those who are illegal immigrants we send them back.”
VIDEO| NGO, March and March will be protesting against undocumented immigrants on the 30th of June:
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