Musina repatriation centre to scale down after more than 68,000 processed

National repatriation and enforcement activity

The Border Management Authority has processed 72,906 repatriations through ports of entry between June 7 and July 14, involving various nationalities, including Malawian, Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals, the committee said.

Authorities reported intensified action against migration-related crimes and recorded 354 arrests and prosecutions linked to migration law violations. An additional 69 arrests were made in Jeffreys Bay over the past weekend, and those arrested appeared in court earlier this week.

The IMC said dedicated immigration courts finalised 28,736 immigration-related cases between April and June 2026, with Gauteng accounting for almost half of those matters.

Operations, infrastructure and warnings

Kubayi told the committee that authorities had conducted 93 joint border operations since April targeting illicit goods trafficking, human trafficking and drug syndicates.

Government said it is preparing to launch major border infrastructure projects and to modernise six of the country’s busiest ports of entry, including Beit Bridge, Lebombo, Maseru and Kopfontein.

The IMC warned against unauthorised identity inspections of foreign nationals and businesses by people allegedly impersonating Home Affairs officials. Kubayi confirmed that seven people had been arrested in Polokwane in connection with such activities and warned those undermining law enforcement that they would face consequences.

“Government is making it clear that migration management is fundamentally a rule-of-law matter. Criminality will not be tolerated, regardless of who is involved,” Kubayi said.

Humanitarian support and rights

The committee defended the government’s humanitarian response to migrants affected by recent tensions, saying healthcare, food, water, sanitation, child protection services and support for vulnerable groups had been provided through coordinated efforts involving embassies, non-governmental organisations and international agencies.

Kubayi said South Africa remained committed to balancing border security and migration control with constitutional obligations and human rights protections, adding that the Five-Point Plan “is yielding tangible progress.”

Next steps

The IMC said it would continue providing updates as government advances what it described as a migration system that is “secure, humane, lawful and aligned with the values of our Constitution.”