MUSINA, LIMPOPO — South Africa’s migration management strategies are being heavily tested at the Beitbridge border as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration (IMC) accelerates efforts to process and repatriate thousands of stranded foreign nationals in Musina. IMC Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi has emphasized that strict adherence to lawful procedures is critical, warning that improper handling of the crisis could see the country facing the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Following a comprehensive oversight visit to the border and local facilities, Kubayi outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to implement the President’s five-point plan for migration. The high-level delegation included the Ministers of Defense, Police, Public Works, Home Affairs, the Minister in the Presidency, alongside the Deputy Ministers of Police and Defense.
The committee inspected border fences, the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the collaboration between the military, the Border Management Authority (BMA), the South African Police Service, and neighboring countries’ forces.
Infrastructure Delays and Human Dignity
Addressing the current situation in Musina, Kubayi clarified the circumstances that led to foreign nationals being temporarily housed at the Musina showgrounds. She explained that infrastructure delays at the newly established temporary repatriation center coincided with a panic among migrants who feared a repeat of the 2008 xenophobic attacks.
Because the temporary facilities were not yet ready when the buses arrived, the local municipality and Home Affairs refugee center lacked the space to park them, forcing the use of the showgrounds. However, Kubayi confirmed that by the following evening, five buses were successfully relocated to the temporary site.
“We have got huge marches that they utilize mattresses. It gives human dignity,” Kubayi stated, noting that the new facility features privacy booths to allow Home Affairs officials to process individuals with dignity while they await repatriation. Currently, the facility is housing approximately 7,000 foreign nationals.
Processing Capacities and Repatriation Numbers
Despite concerns over the Department of Home Affairs’ capacity to handle a massive outflow of people—led by Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber—Kubayi assured that the department is coping well. She noted that over 100 Home Affairs and BMA officials are currently processing documents at Beitbridge.
Additionally, processing is underway at a Pretoria site for foreign nationals departing via charter flights at O.R. Tambo and Lanseria airports. Kubayi clarified that the 37,000 individuals recently processed are exclusively Malawian nationals. The government is also calculating the numbers for Ghanaians, Nigerians, Ugandans, and Zimbabweans, including those arriving from Mpumalanga.
During the briefing, the government also officially rejected claims made by Ghana suggesting that recent anti-immigrant demonstrations in South Africa had turned deadly.
Kubayi drew a strict legal distinction between repatriation and deportation. She explained that repatriation is led by foreign embassies for those wishing to return, whereas deportation is a state-led process that requires court orders. She defended the government’s historical record, noting that between 2023 and March of this year—prior to the current surge—South Africa had already deported over 140,000 individuals. She acknowledged that the current operation represents the largest repatriation effort the country has ever seen.
Community Tensions and Lawful Avenues
The IMC Chairperson expressed deep concern over recent reports of South African citizens forcibly chasing non-South Africans out of their households, regardless of their legal status. Kubayi condemned the actions as unacceptable and announced that law enforcement agencies would be engaged to prevent such vigilantism, which she warned undermines systematic government operations and damages the country’s international standing.
She stressed that proper legal avenues must be followed to avoid international litigation at the ICJ. “You don’t work like that. Laws we’ve got to follow,” she urged, appealing to concerned citizens to allow the government to execute its mandate systematically.
Systemic Tracking and Employer Compliance
Looking at the root causes of the migration pressure, Kubayi highlighted that the majority of undocumented migrants do not enter through porous borders illegally, but rather arrive legally and overstay their 90-day visas permitted under the SADC regional framework. She emphasized the urgent need to improve tracking mechanisms to manage visa expirations.
To combat the incentive for illegal migration, the government is also targeting employers who hire undocumented foreign nationals. Following the President’s February State of the Nation Address (SONA) announcement to appoint 10,000 workplace inspectors, the Department of Labor has intensified enforcement. Kubayi noted that operations in Newcastle, King William’s Town, and the Free State have already resulted in criminal charges for employers found harboring or hiring illegal foreigners, including a notable case involving a Nigerian employer currently out on bail.
IMC Mandate
Addressing the future of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, Kubayi confirmed that the IMC’s mandate runs until the end of the current administration in 2029. While urgent tasks are being prioritized for the next three months, the committee will continue to operate and monitor border security and workplace compliance until the next government decides its fate post-election.