WATCH | Home Affairs ‘coping well’ as South Africa processes over 37,000 repatriations

Johannesburg – The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration says the Department of Home Affairs is managing the growing number of people leaving South Africa effectively, while stressing that all migration processes must comply with domestic and international law.

IMC chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi said the government believed Home Affairs was coping well with the number of people seeking to leave the country.

She cautioned that authorities must ensure proper legal procedures are followed, warning that failure to do so could expose South Africa to legal action before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration says it believes the Department of Home Affairs is coping well with the number of people who are trying to leave the country. Committee chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi says proper avenues need to be followed, as the country could find… pic.twitter.com/EOrLSSZMdz

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 3, 2026

Kubayi’s remarks come amid debate over the government’s migration enforcement efforts following a June 30 deadline linked to the regularisation of certain foreign nationals.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the department had processed more than 37,000 repatriations since Cabinet launched its comprehensive approach to managing migration.

In a post on X, Schreiber said operations were continuing at a temporary repatriation centre established in Musina, describing the process as “lawful, orderly and dignified.”

Home Affairs has processed over 37 000 repatriations since the launch of Cabinet’s comprehensive approach to managing migration. At the new temporary repatriation centre, built at Musina in just 4 days under the IMC, the work continues in a lawful, orderly and dignified manner 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/JzBFavsS0p

— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) July 2, 2026

The minister said the facility was built within four days under the direction of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration.

The government has maintained that its migration strategy aims to strengthen border management, improve immigration enforcement and ensure that repatriations are conducted in accordance with South African and international legal obligations.