LIMPOPO – The situation in the border town of Musina remains desperate as thousands of undocumented migrants wait to be processed by the Department of Home Affairs after arriving at the Beitbridge Border Post over recent days.

Many fled parts of South Africa amid fears of violence and anti-immigrant protests. Thousands packed their belongings and travelled north to Musina, where they have been waiting to be processed before returning to their home countries.

Mass movement from across SA

Large numbers of undocumented migrants from Zimbabwe and Malawi have been transported to Musina by buses from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Western Cape and parts of Limpopo.

In Vhembe, some undocumented foreign nationals were reportedly chased away by the communities in which they reside, while several Zimbabwean nationals were temporarily accommodated at the Makhado Showgrounds in Louis Trichardt before being transferred to Musina.

Temporary centre offers some relief

The temporary repatriation centre established in Musina has brought some relief. Large accommodation tents have been erected, while police and emergency personnel remain on site to maintain order and provide assistance.

The Department of Home Affairs has also deployed a mobile office to speed up processing.

Officials visit the site

Several government officials have visited the centre to assess the situation. Border Management Authority Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato visited the site on July 7 to oversee intensified operations at the border post, where officials have been processing high volumes of undocumented migrants and coordinating their repatriation to Zimbabwe and Malawi.

12 000 repatriated in five days

Authorities say about 12 000 undocumented migrants have been repatriated over five days as part of ongoing efforts to manage cyclical undocumented border crossings.

Hunger and hardship

Many migrants complained of hunger after spending several days waiting to be processed.

Some relied on relatives and friends for food, while humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers distributed meals, blankets and other essential relief items.

One migrant, Daniel Mudzorwa from Zimbabwe, said he had lived in South Africa for many years, working as a gardener in Durban.

After his passport expired, he failed to renew it and became undocumented.

“I have children attending school in South Africa. I don’t know what will happen now because life in Zimbabwe is very difficult, and my children may have to leave school,” he said.

Mudzorwa said he hopes to return to South Africa legally once he has obtained a new passport and the necessary travel documents.