Hundreds of Zimbabwean immigrants boarded buses in Epping to be transported to the Beitbridge border post.
Image: BHEKI RADEBE/ ANA Pictures
A heavy police and metro police presence was visible at the Epping Refugee Reception Office a week after the June 30 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave South Africa.
On Tuesday morning, the road leading to the facility returned to normal with no long queues, no buses lined up outside, and not a single foreign national waiting with suitcases in sight.
Just days ago, the same stretch of road was filled with thousands of people seeking voluntary repatriation, while buses arrived and departed throughout the day.
In the days before June 30, the normally quiet road outside the Epping Refugee Reception Office was transformed into a temporary humanitarian hub. Families carrying what they could queued for hours, while others slept on blankets and beneath makeshift shelters as they waited to be processed for voluntary repatriation.
With thousands arriving over several days, government departments, the City of Cape Town, churches, humanitarian organisations and volunteers coordinated efforts to provide food, medical care, sanitation facilities and transport as buses departed for the country’s northern borders.
Weekend Argus understands that on Monday evening, at around 10pm, the final 13 buses transporting families towards South Africa’s northern borders departed the centre, bringing the temporary repatriation operation to a close.
Dr Naeem Kathrada, who heads up the medical division for Gift of the Givers, described the final departure as an emotional moment after seven days of humanitarian work at the site.
“Last night, 13 buses, with 75 people per bus, left. It was quite emotional for us, working on this for seven days to make sure everyone got back safely,” Kathrada said.
“My little girl was with me, waving to everyone, so it felt like we were saying goodbye to family.”
Kathrada said the scale of the operation was significant, with thousands of people assisted through the Epping site.
Hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals queue for food at the temporary repatriation centre in Epping, where thousands people waited for transport to return home voluntarily.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / ANA STUDIOS
“In total, there would have been about 4 000 people repatriated from the centre, while 3 000 were officially documented through Home Affairs,” he said.
He said those waiting at the centre received humanitarian support throughout the operation.
“Everyone got a snack pack, besides receiving breakfast, lunch and supper,” Kathrada said.
“This was one of the biggest repatriation programmes, and one of the first in my experience with Gift of the Givers where we had to interact with Home Affairs on such a large scale.”
Kathrada said the change at the centre on Tuesday morning was striking.
“It was so strange to see how quiet and empty it was. You usually saw everyone outside, police, and people sitting on the field. I am just glad everyone left safely,” he said.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that it had successfully transferred foreign nationals who requested voluntary repatriation from the Epping Refugee Reception Office in the Western Cape to the Musina Repatriation Centre in Limpopo over the weekend.
According to the department, approximately 1 800 Zimbabwean nationals, including women and children, arrived at the Epping Refugee Reception Office on June 21, before being joined by Malawian nationals who also requested voluntary repatriation.
In total, 3 252 individuals were processed, comprising 3 155 Zimbabwean nationals and 97 Malawian nationals.
The department said the operation was made possible through coordinated efforts involving Home Affairs, the City of Cape Town, civil society organisations and faith-based groups.
“All humanitarian assistance at the site was concluded at 06:00 on Sunday, 5 July 2026. The temporary voluntary repatriation support operation at the Epping Refugee Reception Office has now concluded, and the office resumed its normal operations on Monday, 6 July 2026,” the department said.
Home Affairs added that foreign nationals seeking voluntary repatriation should no longer report to the Epping Refugee Reception Office, with future requests now to be directed to the relevant consulates.
Hundreds of Zimbabweans immigrants boarded hired buses at Home Affairs Refuge Centre in Epping and will be transported to Zimbabwean Beitbridge Border Post.
Image: Bheki Radebe / ANA STUDIO
The conclusion of the operation marks the end of an extraordinary two weeks during which the Epping office became the focal point for thousands of foreign nationals seeking to voluntarily return to their home countries ahead of the widely publicised June 30 deadline.
Now, a week later, the scene has changed dramatically.
The crowds have disappeared, the buses have left, humanitarian operations have ceased, and the Epping Refugee Reception Office has resumed the normal day-to-day immigration services it was designed to provide.