The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration says the temporary repatriation processing centre in Musina will be significantly scaled down from 1 August after processing more than 68,000 undocumented foreign nationals over the past six weeks.
Addressing the media in Pretoria on Sunday, IMC chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi said the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre (TRPC), established in late June, had played a key role in the government’s efforts to implement its five-point migration management plan.
Kubayi said that between 14 June and 24 July, 68,138 foreign nationals were processed through the centre, with the majority repatriated to their countries of origin. The Border Management Authority also processed 72,906 repatriations across South Africa’s ports of entry between 7 June and 14 July.
Most of those processed at the Musina centre were Malawian nationals, followed by Zimbabweans and Mozambicans.
She said the IMC had resolved to reduce the centre’s capacity from 20,000 to 1,500 people following an analysis that showed a decline in the number of arrivals over the past three weeks.
The government, however, said it remains ready to support future repatriation efforts through designated assembly points across municipalities.
Kubayi also revealed that law enforcement agencies had opened 354 migration-related cases involving arrests and prosecutions, while an additional 69 people were arrested in Jeffreys Bay last weekend.
She said integrated operations were continuing to target illegal border crossings, human trafficking syndicates, fraudulent documentation, illegal mining activities and businesses employing undocumented migrants.
The committee confirmed that dedicated immigration courts finalised 28,736 immigration-related cases between April and the end of June, with Gauteng accounting for nearly half of those matters.
The government is also planning to establish dedicated immigration courts at OR Tambo International Airport and the Lindela Repatriation Centre.
Kubayi warned members of the public against impersonating Home Affairs officials or conducting illegal identity inspections of foreign nationals.
She said about seven suspects had already been arrested in Polokwane for allegedly posing as officials and extorting migrants.
The government also condemned attempts to obstruct lawful law enforcement operations, including a recent confrontation in Bellville.
The government further announced plans to strengthen border infrastructure, with Cabinet expected to consider proposals for major upgrades to border facilities and technology this week as part of efforts to improve border security and combat transnational crime.
