About 37,000 migrants have been processed through the Musina Repatriation Centre in Limpopo, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs heard during an oversight visit to assess ongoing repatriation and deportation efforts.
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Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs is conducting an urgent oversight visit to Musina and the Beitbridge Port of Entry after officials revealed that about 37,000 migrants have already been processed through the temporary repatriation centre.
The committee is conducting a two-day oversight visit to the temporary repatriation centres in Musina and the Beitbridge Port of Entry following the closure of the Durban Repatriation Centre.
The visit comes amid continued calls by anti-migrant groups for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Some migrants have since been deported or voluntarily repatriated as tensions and protests continue.
It also follows developments linked to the June 30 deadline issued by several anti-immigration groups, which has created an urgent humanitarian and administrative situation affecting Malawian nationals and other undocumented foreign nationals.
Speaking at the Musina Repatriation Centre on Tuesday, Portfolio Committee chairperson Mosa Chabane said the visit was intended to assess operations and ensure proper oversight.
"Firstly, it is to appreciate the work undertaken by the inter-ministerial committee led by Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, together with the Limpopo provincial government and the local municipality, in establishing this facility to ensure the orderly facilitation of people returning to their countries," Chabane said.
He also commended churches and non-governmental organisations for assisting with humanitarian support.
"We also want to acknowledge the role played by churches and NGOs in ensuring people's safety and creating a conducive environment."
Chabane said the committee would inspect the facility, engage with officials from the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Department of Home Affairs, humanitarian organisations and migrants to assess progress and identify any challenges.
He said one of the key issues emerging from the briefing was the high number of Malawian nationals who had already been repatriated.
"We have been briefed that, as of yesterday (Monday), about 37 000 people had already been processed," he said.
"We have also been assured that by yesterday there was no backlog.”
“The only people at the facility today are those who arrived overnight and are being processed for return to their countries of origin."
Chabane said officials from the BMA and the Department of Home Affairs had assured the committee that everyone processed had been accounted for.
He acknowledged that funding remained one of the biggest challenges facing the operation.
"This exercise was not budgeted for. Departments had to reprioritise funds from within their existing budgets, and this is an issue the committee will examine further once a comprehensive report has been presented."
The committee is expected to conclude its oversight visit on Wednesday.
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