According to the organization Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX), the accelerated processing of thousands of displaced migrants through the Musina temporary repatriation processing center and the Beitbridge border post in South Africa has not ended the humanitarian crisis.
KAAX stated that events following the alleged illegal 'deadline' of June 30, promoted by anti-immigrant groups, have triggered a public health emergency. People were forced to leave their homes due to threats or violence.
Nevertheless, the government defends its migration management strategy, asserting that it aims to create an orderly immigration system while simultaneously protecting the rights and dignity of all South African residents.
The Minister of Justice and Chairperson of the Interdepartmental Committee (IMC), Mmamoloko Kubayi, provided media with information on the implementation of President Cyril Ramaphosa's five-point migration management plan, first announced on June 7. This strategy includes ensuring compliance with immigration laws, securing South Africa's borders, optimizing the immigration system, addressing policy gaps, and strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries.
Kubayi emphasized that the government's approach seeks to balance public concerns about migration with constitutional obligations. She stated: 'In implementing this plan, we strive to achieve orderly and regular migration that takes into account and is sensitive to the issues raised by our people, while upholding human rights and the dignity of all people in our country, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.'
KAAX countered that the effectiveness of the government's response should be judged not by the speed of processing or removal of people, but by whether their constitutional rights, dignity, and access to healthcare are protected throughout the entire process. The organization noted that many people who passed through Musina were legally documented migrants who had lived in South Africa for years, and their deportation will not solve the broader problems of the crisis.
KAAX insisted that the state is responsible for providing displaced persons with adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, and uninterrupted medical care. The organization also pointed to risks associated with processing centers, recalling the cholera outbreak in Musina in 2008, and noted that interrupting critical treatment, including antiretroviral therapy (ART) and tuberculosis treatment, has long-term consequences.
Pastor and activist Nigel Branken said that the situation has gone beyond simple migration management and raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of vulnerable communities. He expressed the view that the actions of volunteer groups, combined with alleged failures to prevent intimidation and forced displacement, require urgent attention.
Branken compared what was happening to an ethnic cleansing campaign conducted by volunteer groups, while the state risks becoming complicit by failing to stop illegal raids, intimidation, and forced displacement in an atmosphere of xenophobic hostility.
According to data presented at the IMC briefing, as of July 11, 53,449 foreign nationals had been processed for deportation or repatriation, about 80% of whom were from Malawi. The government also reported that over 20,000 people had passed through the Musina center, with up to 4,850 moved in a single day.
Kubayi stated that illegal actions by citizens targeting suspected undocumented migrants will not be tolerated. She warned that reports of searches of homes and businesses allegedly containing undocumented migrants are concerning, and reminded that such actions are illegal.
KAAX warned that the threat to migrants has not disappeared, as fear and instability continue to affect access to medical care. Branken also noted that the government's response to alleged intimidation and forced removals called into question accountability, labeling the state's reaction to reports of police inaction as a 'refusal' rather than 'restraint.'
Thousands of Zimbabwean citizens are staying at a temporary voluntary repatriation center in Epping, Cape Town, awaiting their departure home. They have been in this situation since last week as they wait for necessary travel documents and buses.
As of Tuesday, June 30, a lack of transport has forced families to endure the cold and dampness while waiting for buses. One mother from the Epping center stated that they are asking the government to provide more buses due to the large number of people. She noted that it is difficult for her because of the children, it is cold, and everything is wet due to the weather, emphasizing the need for additional buses to return home.
This woman is one of over 2000 Zimbabwean citizens gathered at the temporary facility after initially assembling near the Zimbabwean Consulate last week. Their goal was to return home amidst escalating anti-immigrant demonstrations across South Africa.
Ali Sablay, a representative and coordinator for the humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers, reported a steady increase in the number of arrivals at the center. He specified that although the center was initially established to assist Zimbabwean citizens, people from areas such as Robertson and Malmesbury have also started arriving. Currently, there are over 2000 people at the center.
Sablay noted that Gift of the Givers has set up four large tents and deployed 25 volunteers to provide emergency humanitarian aid. He stressed that the delay is not related to the Department of Home Affairs, which has dispatched additional staff to process departures. The main problem is that people first require emergency travel documents from their home countries, and these processes take time. Furthermore, a serious obstacle is the shortage of bus carriers licensed for cross-border transport.
Almin van der Berg, Deputy Director for Coordination at the Western Cape Department of Home Affairs, reported that everyone currently being processed in Epping is a Zimbabwean citizen voluntarily returning home. She refuted the assumption of other nationalities being present. On Tuesday, officials processed about 1700 people, and on Monday, they assisted 1264 people, including approximately 525 children. Van der Berg added that women with children are the ones leaving most often, and very few men are departing.
Officials hope that everyone currently at the center will leave within the next two days after the issuance of additional travel documents by Zimbabwean authorities and the arrival of more buses.
Cape Town Mayor, Jordyn Hill-Lewis, stated that the city supports the voluntary repatriation efforts by helping to fund transportation. He announced that about 20 buses will be organized to assist these immigrants in their return, and there is an agreement with the Department of Home Affairs regarding this matter.
The humanitarian operation continued on Tuesday amid protests and marches against immigrants in Cape Town and other parts of South Africa, highlighting the growing impact of unrest on migrants seeking to leave the country voluntarily.
