South Africa's Department of Home Affairs reports that the number of undocumented migrants at the Musina Repatriation Centre has declined this month.
The drop indicates a rapid acceleration in the processing of irregular migrants at the border, reflecting the government's efforts to manage undocumented migration in the Limpopo Province.
Officials said the facility has processed more than 70,000 people [1] since it opened three weeks ago [2]. The current number of irregular migrants held in custody at the centre has fallen to approximately 50 [4].
Government officials said conditions at the centre are improving as repatriation efforts continue. These efforts have led to the steady processing, and release, of migrants from the facility.
Financial data regarding the broader repatriation program shows that costs exceeded $1.5 million [3] over an 11-month period ending in June 2025. While the specific Musina facility is reported by some sources to be a recent addition, the wider program has managed significant expenditures to facilitate the return of undocumented individuals to their home countries.
The facility continues to serve as a primary hub for the Department of Home Affairs to coordinate the movement of migrants, including those relocated from other regions such as Durban.
“The facility has processed more than 70,000 people since it opened three weeks ago.”
The rapid processing of thousands of individuals within a three-week window suggests a high-intensity operational push by South African authorities to clear backlogs of undocumented migrants. However, the discrepancy between the facility's reported opening date and the long-term repatriation costs indicates a complex transition from broader regional programs to the specific centralized operations at the Musina centre.
