A total of 35,403 Zimbabweans have returned home on their own through Beitbridge Border Post, compared with 4,795 who were assisted by the Government between 28 May and 27 June this year. The returns come as violent anti-migrant protests continue in parts of South Africa.
According to the latest Civil Protection Unit report, the surge is linked to growing fear among Zimbabweans living in South African townships. Local vigilante groups have been telling undocumented migrants to leave by the end of the day on Tuesday, 30 June.
Although the South African Government says there is no official deadline, the uncertainty has pushed many families to leave the country in a hurry.
Buses are still arriving daily at Beitbridge Border Post, mostly from Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
“The Government of Zimbabwe is actively monitoring the welfare of its citizens in South Africa amid ongoing anti-migrant tensions and has established coordination mechanisms to facilitate their safe repatriation, reception and reintegration,” reads part of the report.
Meanwhile, according to EWN, thousands of Zimbabweans hoping to be repatriated are at the Home Affairs Repatriation Centre in Epping to get documents for their return.
About 3,000 Zimbabweans were moved from the consulate to Epping on Sunday after asking to be repatriated ahead of the 30 June deadline set by the anti-illegal immigrant group March and March.
Officials said people arriving at the centre are being logged on the department’s system before travel documents are arranged with the Zimbabwean consulate.
Many of them, including women and young children, spent another night on Monday out in the cold.
Thousands of young Zimbabwean men are still waiting to be processed.
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