Last buses leave refugee reception office in Epping bound for Zimbabwe border

Hundreds of immigrants from Zimbabwe boarded buses in Epping for transport to the Beitbridge border post. A week after the deadline of June 30th for illegal immigrants to leave South Africa, the refugee reception office in Epping saw a significant presence of police and municipal authorities.

Conclusion of Repatriation Operation

On Tuesday morning, the road leading to the facility returned to normal: long queues had disappeared, parked buses were gone, and no foreigners waiting with suitcases were seen. Just a few days ago, this same stretch of road was filled with thousands of people voluntarily returning home, while buses arrived and departed throughout the day.

Until June 30th, the quiet road in front of the Epping refugee reception office turned into a temporary humanitarian center. Families who took what they could waited for hours in queues, while others slept under tarpaulins and makeshift shelters, awaiting processing for voluntary repatriation.

Coordination of Aid and Departure

As thousands of people arrived over several days, government departments, the City of Cape Town, churches, humanitarian organizations, and volunteers coordinated their efforts to provide food, medical aid, sanitation, and transport as buses headed to the country's northern borders.

According to the Weekend Argus, on Monday evening, around 10 PM, the last 13 buses departed from the center, transporting families to the northern borders of South Africa, thus concluding the temporary repatriation operation. Dr. Naem Katrada, head of the medical department at Gift of the Givers, described this final departure as an emotional moment after seven days of on-site humanitarian work.

Katrada noted: 'Last night 13 buses left, with 75 people in each. It was quite emotional for us to work on this for seven days to ensure everyone returned safely.' He added that because his young daughter waved at everyone, it felt like saying goodbye to family.

Scale of the Program and Support

Katrada emphasized the significant scale of the operation, noting that thousands of people were assisted through the Epping site. He reported that approximately 4000 people were repatriated from the center in total, with 3000 of them officially registered through the Department of Home Affairs.

He specified that people in the waiting center received humanitarian support throughout the operation. 'Everyone received a snack pack, in addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner,' stated Katrada. He also called it one of the largest repatriation programs and one of the first in his experience with Gift of the Givers where they had to interact with Home Affairs on such a large scale.

Official Conclusion and Statistics

Katrada noted the striking changes at the center on Tuesday morning: 'It was so strange to see how quiet and empty it was. Usually, you can see everything here—police and people sitting in the field. I am just glad that everyone left safely.' The Department of Home Affairs confirmed the successful transfer of foreign nationals who requested voluntary repatriation from the Epping refugee reception office in the Western Cape to the Musina Repatriation Centre in Limpopo over the weekend.

According to the department, approximately 1800 Zimbabwean citizens, including women and children, arrived at the Epping refugee reception office on June 21st, followed by citizens of Malawi who also requested voluntary repatriation. A total of 3252 people were processed, of whom 3155 were Zimbabwean citizens and 97 were Malawian citizens.

The department reported that the operation was made possible by the coordinated efforts of Home Affairs, the City of Cape Town, civil society organizations, and religious groups. The department also informed that all humanitarian aid at the site was completed at 6:00 AM on Sunday, July 5, 2026, and that the temporary voluntary repatriation operation at the Epping refugee reception office was concluded, with the office resuming its normal operations on Monday, July 6, 2026.

Home Affairs added that foreigners wishing to return home voluntarily should no longer contact the Epping refugee reception office; future requests should be directed to the relevant consulates.

Operation Conclusion

The conclusion of this operation marks the end of an unusual two weeks during which the Epping office became a focal point for thousands of foreigners seeking to voluntarily return home before the widely publicized deadline of June 30th. Now, a week later, the situation has changed drastically: crowds have vanished, buses have left, humanitarian activities have ceased, and the Epping refugee reception office has resumed providing regular immigration services.

iol.co.zaJune 30, 12:55

After the closure of the Durban Drive-In repatriation point, foreigners await transfer to Musina

Following the closure of the Durban Drive-In repatriation point, foreign nationals remain in an uncertain situation, awaiting buses as they need to reach the new processing center in Musina, Limpopo province.

Situation after the facility's closure

The municipal administration dismantled the tents that were set up on the site, leaving those still awaiting transport in limbo regarding their departure dates. On Tuesday morning, the area was covered in trash.

According to the Etxvini municipality, over 15,000 people were processed through the Durban Drive-In point before operations were moved to Musina.

Accelerating the process and partnership

The government has accelerated the process by expanding the jurisdiction of the Musina Refugee Affairs Office, located near the Beitbridge border post, to conduct verification and data processing. The municipality stated in its release that all logistical aspects have been organized in cooperation with the Government of Malawi, the United Nations, and the International Organization for Migration to facilitate the further repatriation of Malawian citizens.

Next steps and completion of operations

Musina will now function as another temporary processing center for repatriation, allowing the return operation to continue while the Durban Drive-In temporary facility is closed and its infrastructure is dismantled. The municipality reported the day before that it is preparing to decommission and close the temporary facility once all remaining individuals have been transported. Buses continue to arrive, load passengers, and depart for Musina at regular intervals as the coordinated repatriation operation nears completion.

iol.co.zaJune 29, 17:04

Временный пункт репатриации в Дурбане закрывается по мере завершения перемещения граждан Малави

The temporary Durban Drive-In repatriation site is undergoing dismantling as the relocation of undocumented Malawian nationals toward Musina approaches its conclusion. The site is anticipated to shut down on Tuesday morning following a substantial decrease in the number of undocumented Malawian nationals present at the facility, as authorities increase their efforts to finalize the relocation operation.

Ход операции по репатриации

A statement released by the eThekwini Municipality's Marketing and Communications Directorate indicated that roughly 7,000 undocumented Malawian nationals have already been moved from the Durban Drive-In location to a temporary facility situated in Musina, Limpopo. This movement was part of a joint effort involving the Department of Home Affairs and various supporting non-profit organizations.

The municipality reported that the operation advanced quickly, noting that 58 buses left the site on Monday, with another 10 buses departing on Tuesday morning. Furthermore, an additional 70 buses were scheduled to leave throughout the day as officials worked to complete the repatriation procedure. The municipality stated, 'The eThekwini Municipality notes a significant decrease in the number of undocumented Malawian nationals at the Durban Drive-In site as ongoing repatriation efforts continue.'

Детали завершения работ

The municipality emphasized the support it provided during the transport of Malawian nationals to Musina, confirming that approximately 7,000 people had been successfully transferred to Limpopo so far. While buses continued to depart regularly, essential service tents remained operational until the entire operation was finished. Officials mentioned that only around 300 individuals were still waiting at the site for processing.

To enhance efficiency, the municipality is collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to arrange a dedicated truck for luggage transport, as baggage had previously been identified as a constraint on bus passenger capacity. As the operation moves into its final stages, the municipality has started taking down temporary infrastructure. The main marquee has been dismantled, and other temporary structures are currently being removed. Essential service tents will stay up until the repatriation process concludes either later that day or by tomorrow morning.

Реакция местных властей

Mahomed Giga Essa, Chairperson of the North Beach Community Policing Forum (CPF), welcomed the confirmation of the site's closure, viewing it as a major positive step for local residents and businesses. Essa stated that eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba had informed him that the Old Drive-In site would close on Monday night, which brings necessary stability to the North Beach community after about two weeks of disruption.

Essa expressed confidence in the South African Police Service and all relevant authorities to manage the operation safely and legally, assuring that a thorough operational plan was in place. He acknowledged the negative impact the site had on the surrounding community over the last fortnight, citing concerns regarding public order, safety, and general well-being. He commended all involved parties, including the mayor, the South African Police Service, Metro Police, the Department of Home Affairs, NPOs, NGOs, and volunteers, for conducting the operation in a coordinated, humane, and lawful manner.

The closure of the Durban Drive-In repatriation site signifies the final phase of a large-scale humanitarian and immigration effort coordinated between local and national governments, with authorities expecting all remaining individuals to reach Musina by Tuesday morning.