South African authorities have tightened screening procedures at the Musina Repatriation Centre following reports that some Zimbabwean nationals were abusing the country’s free repatriation programme by using Government-funded buses after shopping in Musina.
Officials at the Musina Repatriation Centre in Limpopo Province say they have since tightened screening procedures to prevent abuse of the Government-funded repatriation programme, while emphasising that only a few cases have been detected.
Limpopo Department of Home Affairs manager, Albert Matsaung, said authorities had identified individuals attempting to exploit the system after arriving at the centre carrying groceries purchased in Musina.
“We have picked up one or two that wanted to, after having bought from Musina, come and use our repatriation centre’s transportation,” said Matsaung, during an interview with South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on Monday.
He said the department had responded by introducing stricter screening measures for everyone arriving at the repatriation centre.
Matsaung said the department was working closely with the Zimbabwean and Mozambican embassies, as well as the South African Police Service (SAPS), to identify and stop abuse of the programme.
“There are very few; it’s not that much, and we are managing that. The embassy is also assisting us,” he said.
The Musina Repatriation Centre facilitates the voluntary return of undocumented foreign nationals, mainly Zimbabweans and Mozambicans, to their home countries through free transport provided by South African authorities.
Matsaung, however, said managing the repatriation programme remained challenging because the number of undocumented migrants arriving at the centre fluctuated daily.
“It remains a moving target, and you will never be certain as to how many people will be coming over,” he said.
He said undocumented migrants arrived at the facility through different channels, with many being transported on organised buses from various parts of South Africa.
Despite the isolated cases of abuse, Matsaung stressed that the overwhelming majority of those using the repatriation programme were genuine undocumented migrants seeking to return home.
Matsaung said the Department of Home Affairs would continue working with the Zimbabwean and Mozambican embassies, as well as other stakeholders, to safeguard the integrity of the repatriation programme while ensuring genuine undocumented migrants receive the assistance and transport they need to return home.
