Following nationwide anti-migrant protests on 30 June 2026, South Africa has repatriated or deported more than 53,000 foreign nationals, mostly Malawians, Zimbabweans and Mozambicans. Processing continues at the Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre near Musina.
Home Affairs reported that 50,280 nationals from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique returned home between 14 June and 8 July 2026. This figure includes 44,080 Malawians, 4,659 Zimbabweans and 1,541 Mozambicans, mostly through voluntary repatriations but also some deportations.
Additional repatriations involved about 3,000 people from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya on government flights. The Musina centre, opened on 1 July near Beitbridge, serves as the main processing site where officials verify identities and issue departure documents.
Humanitarian groups including Gift of the Givers have supplied over 95,000 food parcels at the centre. The site lacks running water and showers, relying on JoJo tanks, with aid workers warning of sanitation risks amid overcrowding.
On 9 July marchers in Alexandra and Soweto inspected businesses and removed some foreign shop owners, with reports of assaults on street vendors and residents. The government has stated that only authorised officials may enforce immigration law.
