EPPING, WESTERN CAPE — The ongoing Zimbabwean migrant repatriation effort has hit severe logistical and humanitarian bottlenecks, leaving hundreds of stranded nationals camping in harsh conditions in Epping, Cape Town, and at the Musina border crossing. While the Department of Home Affairs has cleared its temporary refugee centre in Epping and is no longer processing new arrivals, nearly 400 individuals remain stranded in an open field nearby, highlighting a growing crisis for both the migrants and local authorities.
Transport Disputes Halt Evacuations in Cape Town
At the Epping site, the situation has deteriorated into a standoff over unpaid transport fees. On Sunday night, 12 buses arrived to collect the stranded migrants, but only three departed. The remaining nine buses were halted after drivers complained about unpaid fees and refused to proceed. It remains unclear whether the Department of Home Affairs, the City of Cape Town, or the Zimbabwean Consulate was responsible for covering the transport costs.
The stranded group includes both Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals. Many had traveled to the site from rural parts of the Western Cape, including Robertson, De Doorns, Worcester, Hermanus, and Paarl. Some migrants noted they arrived late to the repatriation process simply because they lacked the funds for transport.
Humanitarian Concerns and Calls for Government Intervention
Conditions in the open field have become dire. With no portable ablution facilities available, migrants have been forced to use surrounding corners of the field. Women and infants have been seen sleeping in the cold without adequate blankets, prompting urgent appeals from community and religious leaders.
A spokesperson representing the stranded migrants expressed deep frustration with the Zimbabwean government, noting that the consulate is aware of the crisis but has failed to intervene on the ground. The spokesperson warned that if diplomatic officials do not step in immediately, the community plans to mobilize and march directly to the consulate to demand action.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for a local church assisting the migrants emphasized the constitutional obligations of the state and the City of Cape Town. Stressing that every child has a right to safe shelter and nutrition, the church representative described the sight of infants sleeping on cold pavements as a “murderous threat.” They called for urgent collaboration between moral, spiritual, and government entities to avert a larger humanitarian crisis.
Fleeing Unrest and Seeking Work
While some migrants originally intended to stay and make a living in South Africa, they cited severe threats to their lives as the primary catalyst for their departure. This reality is mirrored at the country’s northern border, where many are fleeing xenophobic tensions and localized evictions.
Border Delays at the Musina Repatriation Centre
Hundreds of kilometers away at the Musina temporary repatriation centre in Limpopo, Zimbabwean nationals currently make up the largest demographic awaiting voluntary return. The number of Malawian nationals at the facility has significantly declined following the departure of 14 buses on Sunday.
However, processing at the Musina centre is facing severe delays. Transport drivers reported wait times of over three hours just to clear border processes due to limited space and administrative bottlenecks. To manage the backlog, Home Affairs and Border Management Authority officials have prioritized the processing of females and mothers.
Among those waiting in the final stages of processing is a Zimbabwean woman from Masvingo who traveled to South Africa seeking employment but has been unemployed for two years. She recounted a harrowing journey to the border, stating she was forced to flee her home in Lephalale after community members rioted and demanded that foreign nationals leave. Having arrived at the Musina centre on Thursday, she now waits with a processing wristband, hoping to board the next available bus back to Zimbabwe.