The South African government is advancing the deportation and repatriation of undocumented foreign nationals as part of the Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration, confirmed that Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are cooperating in the repatriation efforts. Under the voluntary repatriation framework, requesting countries bear the primary responsibility for transportation costs and logistics, while the South African government manages verification and the issuance of departure orders.
Addressing a humanitarian emergency involving Malawian nationals in the Sherwood, Che Guevara, Durban Drive-in, and eMsunduzi areas of KwaZulu-Natal, Kubayi reported that 15,162 Malawian nationals had been processed for deportation and repatriation as of the close of business on June 25, 2026. Additional individuals remain in verification at temporary repatriation centers.
To expedite the process, the government has extended the jurisdiction of the Musina Refugee Reception Office in Limpopo to conduct verifications. A new Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre (TRPC) outside Musina has been established to decentralize operations, reduce reliance on the Lindela Repatriation Centre, accelerate processing, and facilitate more efficient clearance through the Beitbridge port of entry.
Operations at the Musina facility will be coordinated with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Red Cross, Feature Family, the Musina Legal Advice Office (MLAO), the Outreach Foundation, Save the Children, and the Consul General of Malawi.
Concurrently, the repatriation centre in eThekwini will be closed. All Malawian nationals currently housed there will be transferred once logistics are finalized.
In related enforcement updates, authorities arrested 5,056 suspects for contravening immigration laws during the week of June 15, 2026. Multidisciplinary enforcement operations also resulted in 35 arrests, including two employers charged with employing undocumented foreign nationals. To date, 8,230 individuals have been processed through the Beitbridge port of entry.
The Border Management Authority (BMA), in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and other law enforcement agencies, has maintained heightened vigilance across land, air, and sea ports. Static checkpoints and roadblocks remain operational at key corridors leading to critical ports, including Beitbridge.
Minister Kubayi stated that the government’s migration strategy remains anchored in the Constitution and the rule of law. She emphasized that the state will not tolerate the circumvention of immigration systems, nor will it permit vigilantism, violence, or intimidation against any community. The government has urged all undocumented individuals to comply with national laws and called on employers to strictly adhere to immigration and labor legislation.