The situation in Musina, where thousands of undocumented immigrants have gathered over the past week, improved on Thursday. Most of the people were moved to the newly established repatriation centre at the Musina Proefplaas, about 20km outside the town.
Early on Friday morning, the Minister for Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, praised his department, together with the Limpopo provincial government, for the rapid construction of the temporary repatriation centre.
“What was just bush on Sunday morning has now been transformed into a facility that will assist the Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority in processing migrants leaving South Africa safely and in an orderly manner,” he said.
The situation in the border town had become desperate for the thousands of people waiting to be processed. Most were fleeing anticipated violence elsewhere in the country. They feared the 30 June deadline set by the March and March organisers would prompt residents to turn violent. Thousands chose instead to pack whatever belongings they could and head north, where they ended up waiting at the border post.
During a visit to Musina on Thursday, many of the people Limpopo Mirror spoke to complained of hunger after spending days waiting to be processed. Some relied on relatives and friends to buy them food, while others tried to earn money by selling cigarettes, sweets and cool drinks.
Richard Isa, who will return to his wife and two children in Malawi, started cutting people's hair for R10 or R20 to earn money for food.
Richard Isa (right) started cutting hair to earn money for food while he waits to be repatriated at the Proefplaas site. Photo: Thembi Siaga.
After church leaders visited the showgrounds on Monday, the Musina Council of Churches appealed to local businesses and community members for donations. Businesses donated bread, bottled water, juice, nappies and other necessities.
“This situation is very sad because even children are suffering. That is why we intervened as pastors,” said council spokesperson Peter Madamalala-Ndlovhu.
Gift of the Givers also distributed food, bottled water, nappies, sanitary towels and other essential items. Its community liaison officer, Clifford Mabe, said the organisation had provided about 15,000 meals at the showgrounds on Wednesday and would continue supplying meals at the new repatriation centre.
The temporary repatriation centre at the Musina Proefplaas has brought welcome relief to the undocumented immigrants. In addition to large accommodation tents, police and emergency personnel are stationed around the site. A mobile Home Affairs office has also been set up.
A Gift of the Givers truck delivers food and bottled water at the Musina showgrounds before their transfer to the
Musina temporary repatriation centre. Photo: Thembi Siaga.
The new centre provides shelter, mattresses, toilets and access to water, marking a significant improvement on conditions at the showgrounds, where many people had been sleeping in the open.
However, people who have been at the facility since it was established said food was scarce and there were no bathing facilities.
“We are starving. We have toilets and water, but there is no place to bathe,” said Dika Nicholas from Malawi. She is pregnant and had not had anything to eat that day.
“We have not had enough to eat because there are so many of us, and more people keep arriving,” said John Timothy, who will return to his wife and two children in Malawi.
On Thursday, the Limpopo MECs for social development, health, transport and community safety joined Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber to inspect the operational centre and the Beitbridge border post.
According to the provincial government, the delegation was satisfied with the progress of the operation.