The temporary repatriation center in Musina, located in South Africa, was closed following a noticeable decrease in the number of undocumented migrants requiring processing. According to the Interdepartmental Committee on Migration (IMC), 48,948 foreign nationals passed through this facility.
The IMC reported that the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Center in the Limpopo province operated until August. Of the total individuals processed, 46,744 people, which accounts for 95.5%, were classified as 'border jumpers,' while 2,204 people, or 4.5%, reported entering through an official crossing point.
The center was officially established on June 26 as a temporary measure to manage increased migration pressure and ensure the legal, orderly, and dignified processing of undocumented migrants needing assistance with repatriation. It brought together the Department of Home Affairs, Border Control Agency, South African Police Service, national and local health and social development departments, as well as humanitarian organizations at a single processing point.
Nearly 49,000 migrants passed through the Musina center
The IMC clarified that the figure pertaining to this center should not be confused with overall national data. As of July 24, 2026, the government had processed 68,138 migrants nationwide in response to increased migration pressure starting in June, most of whom were repatriated after passing through the Musina center.
Furthermore, the Border Control Agency reported that between June 7 and July 14, 2026, 72,906 repatriations took place across all border posts, including those processed in Musina.
The IMC noted that the majority of migrants who passed through the Musina center were citizens of Malawi, followed by citizens of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The committee emphasized that the center was initially created as a temporary facility and was never intended for permanent operation.
The decision to close was made after a sustained decline in the number of people requiring processing and repatriation assistance. The government initially reduced the center's operational capacity from 20,000 to approximately 1,500 starting August 1, 2026, as migration data showed a continued decrease in arrivals over several weeks. In the period before decommissioning, there were days when no one came for processing, meaning the temporary facility no longer justified its operations at the existing scale.
The decision was also influenced by the fact that the Government of Malawi no longer planned to facilitate the repatriation of its citizens through this temporary center. The IMC added that further operation of the center would require expenses for rented equipment, fuel for generators, accommodation for officials, and additional security services, and maintaining the facility with significantly reduced demand would not be the most efficient use of public resources.
The committee assured that the closure should not be interpreted as the Government abandoning responsibility for migration management; rather, it represents the conclusion of a temporary emergency intervention that fulfilled its immediate operational task of preventing a crisis at the Durban border post.
The dismantling of tents and other temporary infrastructure began as part of the official decommissioning of the center on August 21. State communications officials documented the removal of the infrastructure and the entire closing process, which was officially registered on August 21, 2026.
Deportation and repatriation will continue through legal channels
The IMC stressed that the closure of the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Center does not mean the cessation of deportation or repatriation operations. Immigration control, deportation, and repatriation assistance remain the exclusive responsibility of the state and will continue in accordance with South African immigration law, constitutional obligations, and international agreements.
In cases where undocumented migrants are identified, the Department of Home Affairs and relevant law enforcement agencies will follow applicable legal and administrative procedures. The phased closure of the Musina center does not jeopardize the state's ability to conduct deportations or provide support for assisted repatriations.
The IMC also explained that undocumented migrants will not automatically be transferred to the Lindela Repatriation Center solely because the temporary facility in Musina has closed. The appropriate facility for processing or detention will be determined by the Department of Home Affairs and relevant authorities based on the individual circumstances of each case, legal requirements, available capacity, location, and operational considerations.
It was noted that the Lindela Preliminary Repatriation Center in Gauteng remains one of the authorized facilities that can be used provided legal and operational conditions are met. The government will also continue to cooperate with neighboring countries, diplomatic missions, the International Organization for Migration, and humanitarian partners to ensure safe, coordinated, and dignified returns where repatriation assistance is necessary.
The IMC stated that the government remains committed to lawful and humane migration management. The temporary center demonstrated the government's capacity to respond quickly and coordinately to exceptional migration pressure. It allowed immigration, security, judicial, medical, social, and humanitarian services to be brought closer to the border, supporting orderly processing and reducing the burden on internal institutions. The government intends to continue strengthening border management, ensuring compliance with immigration laws, combating human trafficking and other criminal networks, and addressing gaps in the country's migration management system, all while upholding the rule of law and protecting the dignity and constitutional rights of all people.