JOHANNESBURG - Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says authorities have no idea how many illegal foreigners are living in South Africa.
He says the department simply does not have mechanisms in place to monitor and assess this.
Motsoaledi was giving an update on citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection in Pretoria on Sunday.
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He says around 20,000 illegal foreigners are deported every year.
"Many foreigners come to South Africa and stay in the country illegally. No one can account for all the undocumented migrants," he said.
"The Department of Home Affairs has no idea as to how many illegal migrants are in South Africa."