Group of South Africans removed from Ireland
63 South Africans, consisting of 54 adults and 9 children, have been removed from Ireland by charter flight.
Ireland’s Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration Minister, Jim O’Callaghan, confirmed completion of a charter operation to South Africa to effect deportation orders.
The flight departed Dublin Airport at 17h05 on Saturday, 28 February 2026, and landed in Johannesburg shortly after 4h00 on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
The returnees were accompanied on the flight by members of An Garda Síochána, medical staff, an interpreter, and a human rights observer.
This is the second charter operation this year, and the eighth since the recommencement of charter flights to effect removals and deportation orders in 2025.
“I would like to acknowledge that the majority of South African nationals resident in Ireland are doing so legally,” said Minister of State Colm Brophy.
He explained that these South Africans entered Ireland through the various legal pathways available.
“They are welcome and contribute immensely to our economy and society,” Brophy said in a statement.
However, the group of South Africans who were deported did not follow the traditional legal route and were not in the country legally.
Ten of the adults had criminal convictions in Ireland, ranging from domestic violence to drug trafficking.
Their removal dovetails with parallel policing operations such as Operation Tara, related to drug networks, and Operation Moonridge, linked to sex-offender management.
Commenting on the charter flight, Minister O’Callaghan said they would increase the options available to An Garda Síochána to effect orders.
“Charter flights are now a routine and essential part of immigration enforcement for the state,” he said.
“Without effective enforcement measures, our immigration laws would be undermined. I want to ensure that there is public confidence in the application of our laws.”
“If a person does not have a legal permission to be in the State, or has been involved in criminality, they will be removed.”
Voluntary return is an option open to people who have no legal status in Ireland, including those who are refused International Protection.
Where this option is taken up, a deportation order is not issued in respect of that person.
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