Is Schreiber’s repatriation bill political marketing?

Africa is currently viewing South Africa as the leading country for xenophobia, despite the presence of anti-foreigner sentiments in other nations. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has sent bills to certain countries, such as Malawi, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, requesting reimbursement for the repatriation costs of their citizens who were detained in South Africa.

It remains unclear if Zimbabwe, which likely holds the majority of the nearly 83,000 foreigners processed at repatriation centers in South Africa, will receive similar demands. These requests are unlikely to receive positive responses from African governments whose citizens were in South Africa illegally, as they have generally refused to openly acknowledge their presence and have instead assumed the role of the victim.

There have been instances where some Africans have proposed that Pretoria be billed for the costs of chartering planes, a move Nigeria and Ghana made to evacuate their citizens. However, this is not expected to happen. The decision to send these bills now may serve the purpose of addressing the concerns of South Africans who feel their hospitality has been abused by illegal immigrants.

While some government officials and political parties, such as the EFF, may find it hard to accept, the reality is that the South African public feels that their hospitality has been exploited by illegals. Demanding monetary payback may make the government appear more sympathetic, especially as a local government election approaches.

Schreiber's actions demonstrate a display of strength and patriotism in dealing with sensitive international matters.