The South African government has defended the deportation of seven Kenyan nationals, saying the move was lawful and non negotiable under its immigration laws.
Speaking in Pretoria, Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), said the individuals were found working illegally while holding tourist visas.
“These individuals were engaged in work without the necessary work permits. The government will not negotiate its sovereignty and the implementation of the rule of law,” Phiri said.
According to South African media reports, the seven Kenyans were arrested in Johannesburg during an intelligence led operation carried out by the Department of Home Affairs in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.
Home Affairs said intelligence indicated that Kenyan nationals had recently entered South Africa on tourist visas and taken up employment at a centre processing applications for refugees bound for the United States. Authorities said previous applications seeking permission for Kenyan nationals to carry out such work had been declined.
Despite this, the individuals were allegedly found performing duties that violated the conditions of their visas. They were arrested, issued with deportation orders and barred from re entering South Africa for five years.
The incident has since escalated into a diplomatic issue involving the United States.
On Thursday evening, Dirco rejected what it termed unsubstantiated allegations that private information belonging to US officials had been leaked following the Johannesburg operation.
“South Africa treats all matters of data security with the utmost seriousness and operates under stringent legal and diplomatic protocols,” Phiri said, adding that there was no state involvement in any data leak.
He noted that South Africa had opened official channels with the US government to seek clarity and ensure engagement based on “mutual respect and factual dialogue”.
However, the United States Embassy in Pretoria issued a strongly worded statement condemning the raid, claiming US officials were detained while carrying out humanitarian duties linked to the processing of Afrikaner refugees.
The embassy also accused South African authorities of releasing passport details of US officials, calling it harassment and intimidation.
“The United States will not tolerate such behaviour toward its government’s officials or its citizens who are legally and peacefully operating abroad,” the embassy said, warning of “severe consequences” if those responsible are not held accountable.
The standoff comes against the backdrop of a controversial US decision earlier this year to accept a group of South African Afrikaners as refugees. The move sparked debate within South Africa, with critics questioning the basis on which the group was granted refugee status.
