Nigeria, June 12 -- South Africa has announced plans to start charging foreign governments for the cost of deporting their nationals who violate the country's immigration laws.

The move comes amid a renewed crackdown on undocumented migrants and growing anti-immigration sentiment that has prompted the repatriation of hundreds of African nationals, including Nigerians and Ghanaians, from the country.

The policy was disclosed by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, which said the government would seek to recover expenses incurred in detaining and deporting foreign nationals, a South-Africa-based radio service, Channel Africa, reported on 9 June, but did not state when the announcement was made.

According to South Af...