Musina repatriation centre closed after processing 48,948 people, IMC says

The Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre in Limpopo has been decommissioned after processing 48,948 foreign nationals, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration (IMC) said. The IMC said the closure followed a sustained decline in the number of people requiring assisted repatriation.

Numbers and classifications

The IMC reported that 48,948 foreign nationals were processed at the Musina facility. Of those processed, 46,744 (95.5%) were classified as “border jumpers” and 2,204 (4.5%) were recorded as having reported through a port of entry.

The IMC emphasised that the centre-specific figure of 48,948 should not be confused with the broader national total. It said that by July 24, 2026, the government had processed 68,138 migrants nationally following increased migration pressures that began in June, with the majority repatriated after being processed through the Musina centre.

Why the centre closed

The IMC said the centre was established on June 26 as a temporary intervention to manage increased migration pressures and to provide coordinated, on-site processing involving the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, the South African Police Service, health and social development departments and humanitarian organisations.

It added the decision to close the centre “followed a sustained decline in the number of people requiring processing and repatriation assistance.” The government had reduced the centre’s operational capacity from 20,000 to approximately 1,500 from August 1, 2026 after migration data showed arrivals declining over successive weeks.

The IMC also said the Government of Malawi was no longer intending to facilitate repatriation of its citizens through the temporary centre, and that continuing to operate the facility at scale would have required expenditure on hired equipment, generator fuel, deployment of officials and additional security services.

Decommissioning and next steps

The IMC said the decommissioning of the centre was recorded as of August 21, 2026.

Closure of the Musina facility does not end deportation or repatriation operations, the IMC said. It stated that immigration enforcement, deportation and facilitated repatriation remain the responsibility of the State and will continue in accordance with South Africa’s immigration laws, constitutional obligations and international commitments.

The IMC said undocumented migrants will not automatically be transferred to Lindela Repatriation Centre; the appropriate processing or detention facility will be determined by the Department of Home Affairs and relevant authorities based on individual circumstances, legal requirements, available capacity and operational considerations.

Nationality and cooperation

The IMC reported that the majority of migrants processed through Musina were Malawian nationals, followed by Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals. It said government will continue to work with neighbouring countries, diplomatic missions, the International Organization for Migration and humanitarian partners to support assisted repatriations where required.

Officials’ message

The IMC said the temporary centre had fulfilled its immediate operational purpose by bringing services closer to the border, supporting orderly processing and reducing pressure on inland facilities. It reiterated the government’s commitment to lawful and humane migration management, strengthening border management, enforcing immigration laws and disrupting criminal networks while upholding the rule of law and protecting dignity and constitutional rights.

The IMC also reminded the public that only authorised government officials may conduct immigration enforcement and warned against unlawful identity checks, intimidation, removals or vigilantism by communities.