Irish authorities deported 42 South African nationals on a chartered flight from Dublin to Johannesburg, enforcing deportation orders against individuals living in the country without legal permission.
The group, comprising nine men, 18 women, and 15 children traveling as family units, departed Dublin Airport on Thursday afternoon and arrived in Johannesburg early Friday morning. Two of those removed had prior criminal convictions in Ireland.
This marked the fourth deportation charter flight of 2026. Previous operations this year removed 130 people, including 67 EU citizens on grounds of criminality, according to the Department of Justice. The latest flight cost approximately €735,000.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan confirmed the operation’s completion. “Our immigration system must be rules-based and robust,” he stated. “The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure there is public confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.”
O’Callaghan noted that the vast majority of South African nationals in Ireland reside legally and contribute positively to society. He thanked Gardaà and departmental officials for conducting the complex operation, which included escorts from An Garda SÃochána, medical staff, an interpreter, and a human rights observer.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau executed the removals following deportation orders issued by the Minister. So far in 2026, authorities have signed 2,108 deportation orders, continuing a trend of increased enforcement. In 2025, 4,700 orders were issued, a significant rise from the prior year.