LIMPOPO – The Border Management Authority (BMA) has deported 673 Malawian and 202 Zimbabwean nationals through the Beitbridge Port of Entry in Musina, Limpopo. In a coordinated movement, an additional 453 Malawian nationals were deported directly from the Lindela Holding Facility.
According to BMA statistics, the authority processed a total of 1,129 Malawian nationals and 467 Zimbabwean nationals in what was described as the largest single-day processing of Malawian nationals to date. The extensive operation took approximately 13 hours to complete.
BMA Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato commended officials for managing the large-scale operation both efficiently and humanely.
During the operation, border officials intercepted 11 undocumented immigrants attempting to enter South Africa illegally and stopped two Zimbabwean nationals who were on the Visa and Entry Stop List. Additionally, BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi confirmed that several overstayers from Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Malawi were processed and assisted to leave the country in accordance with immigration laws.
To facilitate the repatriation, the BMA anticipated a large volume of buses transporting mainly Malawian nationals from Sherwood in KwaZulu-Natal to the Beitbridge border post. Furthermore, seven buses carrying Malawian nationals from the Western Cape, traveling all the way from Cape Town, were successfully processed and crossed the border.
Because the 1,129 Malawian nationals processed were undocumented, they were issued emergency temporary travel certificates to allow them to pass through the border. The 467 Zimbabwean nationals processed traveled from a repatriation center in Lindela, Gauteng.
Stringent security measures were applied throughout the 13-hour process. Immigration officials conducted traditional headcounts to account for every individual present and performed biometric fingerprint security checks to verify the identities of those being repatriated to Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The BMA anticipates the arrival of additional buses from KwaZulu-Natal to be processed at the border post. Monitoring of the repatriation exercise and the movement of these buses remains ongoing at the Beitbridge Port of Entry.