Médecins Sans Frontières warns that thousands displaced by anti-migrant violence in South Africa struggle to access healthcare and shelter, while the government maintains that conditions at repatriation centres are humane and constitutional obligations are being met.
Médecins Sans Frontières has scaled up operations in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and at the South Africa-Zimbabwe border following a surge in violence that displaced migrants after an ultimatum demanding undocumented foreigners leave by 30 June.
The organisation reported that patients including refugees, asylum seekers and documented migrants face interrupted treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, HIV and TB. MSF emergency coordinator Claire Waterhouse stated: “We are deeply saddened to see people fleeing harassment and violence, and we stand in solidarity with affected communities who have had their rights to health and dignity undermined.”
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, briefed the media on Sunday and acknowledged concerns at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre. She said the government is providing shelter, water, sanitation, food, dignity packs, security and child protection in line with constitutional duties.
Kubayi added that dedicated immigration courts in eThekwini had finalised 2,173 deportation cases between 1 June and 9 July 2026 as part of efforts to manage migration. The Inter-Ministerial Committee also noted that the majority of undocumented foreign nationals do not qualify for refugee or asylum status.
