Musina migrant centre to scale down as deportations drop – dailysun - EUROPE SAYS
MUSINA centre to reduce capacity. Government will scale down operations at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre (TRPC) from 20,000 to 1,500 people from 1 August, following a sharp decline in the. . .
MUSINA centre to reduce capacity. Government will scale down operations at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre (TRPC) from 20,000 to 1,500 people from 1 August, following a sharp decline in the number of undocumented foreign nationals being processed. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi announced the decision on Sunday, 26 July 2026, during a media briefing on government’s progress in implementing the Five-Point Plan on Migration Management. The temporary facility was established in June to manage increased migration pressures and process undocumented foreign nationals before their repatriation. Decision based on migration trendsKubayi said the decision to reduce the centre’s capacity was taken after government analysed migration trends over the past three weeks. ALSO READ: JUST IN: SIU freezes Montana’s luxury homes in R5. 6bn PRASA probeThe IMC has taken a decision at its regular meeting on Friday, 24 July 2026, that as of the 1st of August 2026, operations at the TRPC will be scaled down from 20,000 capacity to 1,500 capacity, after analysis of data trends for the past three weeks. She assured the public that reducing the facility’s capacity would not affect government’s ability to continue processing undocumented foreign nationals or carrying out deportations. “The State remains with the legal obligation to continuously manage the issue of migration in the country and will continue to do so guided by the Five-Point Plan and immigration laws of our country, and the work being monitored by Cabinet,” she said. Thousands processedKubayi revealed that between 14 June and 24 July, government processed 68,138 undocumented foreign nationals, with most being repatriated through the Musina centre. The Border Management Authority (BMA) also processed 72,906 repatriations through ports of entry between 7 June and 14 July. She said Malawian nationals made up the largest group processed at the centre, followed by Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals. Kubayi also revealed that immigration courts across Mzansi finalised 28,736 immigration-related cases between 1 April and the end of June, with Gauteng accounting for nearly half of all the matters. Government maintains humanitarian supportDespite tighter migration enforcement, Kubayi said government remained committed to protecting vulnerable people by providing healthcare, food, water, sanitation, child protection services, and support for women and other vulnerable groups. She added that government had worked with embassies, humanitarian organisations and faith-based groups to ensure undocumented migrants received assistance while awaiting repatriation. Kubayi thanked government departments, municipalities, the South African National Defence Force, the South African Police Service, healthcare workers and humanitarian organisations, including Gift of the Givers, for helping operate the centre. She said government has already identified assembly points across municipalities should migration pressures increase again in future. Five-point plan showing progressThe implementation of the Five-Point Plan is yielding tangible progress. We are strengthening law enforcement. We are securing our borders. We are working closely with partner countries. We are improving policy and legislation, and we are ensuring that humanitarian considerations remain central to our response. “While challenges remain, government is firmly committed to implementing a migration system that is secure, humane, lawful and aligned with the values of our Constitution,” she said.