At least 1,521 Zimbabweans have been successfully repatriated through Beitbridge Border Post as documentation and repatriation efforts intensify ahead of t...
At least 1,521 Zimbabweans have been successfully repatriated through Beitbridge Border Post as documentation and repatriation efforts intensify ahead of the June 30 deadline. The repatriations were carried out between June 12 and June 24, with border authorities processing travellers returning to Zimbabwe through one of the country’s busiest border crossings.
According to a statement issued by Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato, the Zimbabwean nationals travelled on 26 buses during the period. The operation forms part of ongoing efforts to process people seeking to return home before the deadline. Border officials have continued handling increasing numbers of travellers as movement across the border grows.
Dr Masiapato also confirmed that the BMA processed 6,709 Malawian nationals travelling on 112 buses between June 12 and June 24. The figures show that border authorities have been managing large volumes of travellers from neighbouring countries as repatriation activities continue.
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Meanwhile, more Zimbabweans have been gathering at the country’s consulate in Cape Town as they seek emergency travel documents before returning home. The growing demand for documentation has resulted in large numbers of people visiting the consulate in recent days as preparations for repatriation continue.
According to eNCA, the number of Zimbabweans at the consulate has increased significantly. The broadcaster reported that the number of people seeking urgent documentation and emergency shelter had risen from about 1,000 to approximately 3,000. The increase has placed additional pressure on support services assisting citizens during the repatriation process.
Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers also reported a sharp rise in the number of Zimbabweans requesting assistance over the past two weeks. The organisation has been providing humanitarian support to people gathering at the consulate while they wait for documentation and transport arrangements.
Gift of the Givers representative Ali Sablay said the increase in numbers became clear while relief teams were carrying out humanitarian work. “When our teams were busy with humanitarian relief, we saw that the numbers went from close to a thousand people to close to three thousand people coming to seek shelter there, coming to get their documents to be repatriated back home,” he said.
Some of the Zimbabwean nationals are now being transferred to the Department of Home Affairs Repatriation Centre in Epping for further processing. Authorities continue to coordinate documentation and processing procedures as more people prepare to return to Zimbabwe.
The repatriation efforts come ahead of nationwide protests called by anti-immigrant groups on June 30. Speaking before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) last Thursday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged the public to remain calm and stressed that immigration law enforcement is the responsibility of the State. “We have also said that responsibility for enforcing our laws rests with the State, and that no individual may stop any person, demanding documentation or proof of identity or nationality,” he said.
President Ramaphosa also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to protecting the rights of everyone within its borders. He said the country remains committed to upholding human rights and rejected all forms of discrimination. “There is no place for sexism, xenophobia, Afrophobia, or any other form of intolerance,” he said, as authorities continue processing thousands of people seeking documentation and repatriation.
