EPPING, WESTERN CAPE — The repatriation of stranded Zimbabwean migrants and other foreign nationals in South Africa has ground to a halt in Cape Town, sparking a severe humanitarian emergency. As the Department of Home Affairs ceases new registrations at its Epping facility, hundreds of desperate individuals are left shivering in an open field due to unresolved transport payment disputes, while simultaneous border bottlenecks are delaying returns from the Musina repatriation centre.
Bus Drivers Refuse to Depart Over Unpaid Fees
The logistical breakdown in Cape Town escalated on Sunday night when a fleet of 12 buses arrived at an open field near the Epping Home Affairs Refugee Centre to transport migrants back to their home countries. However, only three buses ultimately departed.
The remaining nine vehicles were grounded after drivers refused to proceed, citing unpaid fees. The drivers reportedly unloaded the migrants who had already boarded and abandoned the operation. It remains entirely unclear which government entity or diplomatic mission is financially responsible for the transport—whether it falls under the Department of Home Affairs, the City of Cape Town, or the Zimbabwean Consulate.
The stranded population, which initially swelled to nearly 700 people, has now dwindled to an estimated 400. The group comprises both Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals. Many had traveled to the Epping site from rural areas across the Western Cape, including Robertson, De Doorns, Worcester, Hermanus, and Paarl. Several migrants noted that they only arrived over the weekend because they lacked the financial means to travel to the centre earlier in the week when the process initially began.
Desperate Conditions Prompt Threats of Consulate March
With the temporary Home Affairs facility cleared and no longer processing new arrivals, the migrants are left camping in a harsh, open environment. There are no portable ablution facilities available, forcing individuals to use the far corners of the field. The situation is particularly dire for women and small children, many of whom have been sleeping on the cold ground without blankets since Friday.
A spokesperson representing the stranded migrants expressed deep frustration with the Zimbabwean government, stating that consulate officials are fully aware of the crisis on the ground but have failed to intervene. The spokesperson issued a stark warning, stating that if diplomatic officials do not step in immediately to assist, the community will mobilize and march directly to the consulate to demand action.
A church spokesperson providing aid on the ground emphasized that the City of Cape Town and the state have a strict constitutional obligation to safeguard children, ensuring their right to safe shelter and nutrition. Describing the sight of infants sleeping on cold pavements and sand as a “murderous threat,” the church representative noted that while their organization is fulfilling its moral and spiritual obligations, urgent collaboration with the state is required to prevent a wider disaster.
While many of the migrants originally traveled to South Africa seeking economic opportunities, they stated that severe threats to their lives ultimately forced them to abandon their livelihoods and seek a way home.
Border Gridlock and Evictions Complicate Returns at Musina
Hundreds of kilometers to the north, the crisis is mirrored at the Musina temporary repatriation centre in Limpopo. Zimbabwean nationals currently constitute the largest demographic at the facility, while the number of Malawian nationals has significantly decreased following the departure of 14 buses on Sunday.
However, the physical act of crossing the border is proving highly problematic. Transport drivers at the Musina centre report waiting in excess of three hours simply to clear border processes, a delay attributed to severely limited operational space at the border post. To manage the backlog on the ground, officials have prioritized the processing of females and mothers.
Among those in the final stages of processing is a Zimbabwean woman from Masvingo, a historic city located near a prominent UNESCO World Heritage Center. She traveled to South Africa two years ago in search of employment but has remained jobless.
Her journey to the Musina centre was forced by violence. She recounted arriving at the repatriation facility on Thursday after fleeing her home in Lephalale, where localized rioting and community members demanding the departure of foreign nationals left her with no choice but to leave. Now equipped with a processing wristband, she waits in the designated tents, hoping to finally board a bus back to Zimbabwe.