MUSINA, LIMPOPO – The massive repatriation of illegal immigrants currently underway in South Africa is rapidly gaining speed, with the Musina Repatriation Centre acting as the primary bottleneck and processing hub for thousands of foreign nationals. As transport fleets arrive from Cape Town and various other provinces, authorities are working around the clock to clear the backlog of individuals slated for deportation through the Beitbridge Port of Entry.
Albert Matsaung, a manager at the Department of Home Affairs, noted that the sheer volume of people at the facility is gradually decreasing and described the overall mood among officials as positive. Comparing the logistical challenge to a massive undertaking, Matsaung stated, “This is an elephant that we are going to eat piece by piece.” He highlighted that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is actively identifying and investigating additional cases on the ground. On Sunday alone, officials successfully processed and deported over 4,000 illegal immigrants, with Malawian nationals making up the majority. The department is now targeting a throughput of more than 5,000 individuals for the current day.
However, the accelerated operation has been marked by a tragic incident. Matsaung confirmed the death of a 47-year-old Malawian national who passed away while being transported. The man reportedly fell suddenly ill on a repatriation bus en route from the Musina facility to the Beitbridge border post. Local police in Limpopo have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Inside the Musina centre, the physical conditions and slow verification processes are taking a toll on the illegal immigrants awaiting their turn. Many have been standing in queues for over five days during the winter season. The environment is described as heavily dusty, leading to health issues, with several children reportedly suffering from the flu. Detainees express a desperate desire to simply return home, noting that the lines barely move from morning to night.
Among those enduring the wait is a Zimbabwean hairdresser who has been at the centre for three days with her three children. To pass the time, she is braiding the hair of fellow illegal immigrants for free. She previously operated out of a hair salon in Mankweng, near Polokwane, after moving to South Africa in 2010 and initially settling in Pretoria. She explained her financial setup, noting she paid 2,000 to rent a salon chair and 1,500 for her accommodation, while also contributing to a year-end savings club known as a “molan.”
Now facing an uncertain future back in Zimbabwe, she plans to pivot to gardening or raising chickens to support her mother and children. She highlighted the financial shock of returning, noting her children attended a government school in Zimbabwe where fees were waived, whereas they will now have to pay for tuition and books. “We are going to make a plan. God will provide,” she stated.
To mitigate the humanitarian crisis, various organizations have stepped in to provide essential aid. At the peak of the influx, volunteers were feeding up to 25,000 people daily—a staggering increase from initial figures of 1,000, which steadily climbed through 3,500, 8,000, 10,000, 12,500, 15,000, and 20,000 before hitting the 25,000 mark. Fortunately, aid workers report that the numbers are now dropping as more people are processed and leave than arrive. Most temporary holding centers have shut down; Epping currently has only a few hundred people waiting outside, churches in South End hold about 200 individuals, and a group in Deon was recently loaded onto buses.
Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in Limpopo has expressed satisfaction with the conditions at the Musina facility. The SAHRC has been distributing food at the local showground since Monday, spending between 3,000 and 4,000 daily to feed those waiting.
The logistical strain is also highly visible in Durban, where illegal immigrants continue to camp on the streets amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement. Community leaders managed to secure 11 buses—two donated and nine provided by Home Affairs—to transport people, successfully reducing the local gathering from 800 individuals on Friday. Despite these efforts, the continuous arrival of new individuals creates a revolving door. One community advocate noted that while there were 215 people when they departed yesterday, the count had already swelled to 386 by today. They are urgently appealing for more transport to move people directly to Musina for processing, warning that local delays will overwhelm Home Affairs resources.
The exodus has resulted in a massive return of citizens to Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government confirmed that approximately 60,000 of its nationals have crossed back into the country. Official data reveals that over 11,000 were repatriated through direct intergovernmental collaboration, while an additional 47,730 returned voluntarily.
In response to the influx, Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa has issued a public appeal for citizens to warmly welcome their returning compatriots. Reaffirming the state’s dedication to their reintegration, he stressed that no returning citizen will be abandoned during their transition. “Come home. Let us continue to build, modernize, industrialize and develop our beloved motherland together. Zimbabwe as a united country,” Mnangagwa urged. To facilitate this, Zimbabwean authorities have pledged a comprehensive support package for the returnees, which includes transportation, temporary accommodation, psychosocial counseling, and broader social protection services.