BORDER CROSSINGS: Eswatini repatriation of US deportees raises concerns

Eswatini has repatriated 10 of its 31 deportees from the US, probably through South Africa, and there are rumours that they were released through informal border crossings.

Eswatini has repatriated 10 individuals – some with criminal records – probably via Johannesburg to third countries, but both countries are denying that Eswatini was “secretly releasing United States (US) deportees at night to South Africa through informal border crossings…”

The 10 deportees are part of 31 people who have been deported to the country from the US since 2025.

Though officials said the 10 were very likely to have transited through South Africa, Eswatini government acting spokesperson Thabile Mdluli told Daily Maverick, “We are deliberately not mentioning the countries of transit. We will still need them for future repatriations.”

The media reports that Eswatini had smuggled US deportees into South Africa seem to originate from the online news portal Swaziland News, which is notorious for publishing similar kinds of stories.

The Eswatini government responded in a statement expressing concern about the reports, which it said were misleading “and have the potential to cause unnecessary apprehension and anxiety, particularly among neighbouring countries.”

It said it had repatriated ten “Third Country Nationals” (TCNs) between September 2025 and October 2026 to their countries of origin. The government said it “works closely with relevant international and national stakeholders to ensure that the repatriation process is conducted in an orderly, safe and dignified manner.

“This includes making the necessary arrangements for their movement through transit countries and ensuring that all processes are undertaken in accordance with the applicable laws and statutes governing legal migration.”

“The repatriations have been conducted without incident. None of the repatriated TCNs has been mistakenly sent to an incorrect country, nor has any repatriated individual posed a threat or caused harm to members of the public.”

Meanwhile, a South African Border Management Authority (BMA) statement dismissed “claims that deportees are entering South Africa through informal border crossings. “

It said that South Africa’s land ports of entry with Eswatini “are secured, with access control measures implemented at designated entry and exit points”.

Any person in transit through South African airports “goes through international transfers without entering the Republic. Therefore any attempt to circumvent formal Ports of Entry is subject to detection and enforcement action,” the BMA said

Mdluli told Daily Maverick that after the repatriation of the 10 deportees/TCNs – one each to Jamaica, Cambodia, Mauritania, Somalia, Cameroon, Yemen, Belize and Laos and two to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – since September 2025, another 21 TCNs were still in Eswatini awaiting repatriation.

Asked what was causing the delay, she said, “A lot goes into the repatriation process, including engagements with the receiving state, transit arrangements etc. We are not expecting any new TCNs at the moment.”