A humanitarian and health emergency unfolded at South Africa’s northern border this week when the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that ten buses packed with Zimbabwean migrants were urgently diverted away from the Musina Repatriation Centre. The drastic decision came after authorities raised the alarm over passengers suffering from severe diarrhoea, sparking fears of a potential gastrointestinal outbreak among the large group of deportees.
The buses, which had travelled all the way from Cape Town, were reportedly carrying hundreds of undocumented migrants who had been rounded up in the Western Cape as part of ongoing immigration enforcement operations. The plan was to transport them to the Musina facility, which serves as the primary processing and repatriation hub for migrants being returned to Zimbabwe. However, as the convoy approached the border town, health officials flagged critical concerns about the condition of several passengers, many of whom appeared visibly unwell and were experiencing acute symptoms of dehydration and illness.
In a statement, Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qoza confirmed that the buses were immediately redirected to an alternative holding site away from the main repatriation centre to prevent any potential contamination or spread of infection. Emergency medical teams were dispatched to the scene to assess the affected individuals, administer rehydration fluids, and conduct preliminary screenings. “The health and dignity of all persons in our custody is paramount,” Qoza said. “We could not risk bringing visibly ill individuals into the centre without first ensuring they received proper medical attention.”
While the exact cause of the illness has not yet been confirmed, preliminary suspicions point to contaminated food or water consumed during the long journey from the Cape. Local health authorities have since cordoned off the temporary holding area and are monitoring the situation closely. The repatriation process for the affected migrants has been temporarily suspended, and it remains unclear when the buses will be cleared to proceed to the border. Civil society groups have expressed concern over the treatment of the migrants during transport, calling for an independent investigation into the conditions they were subjected to. The Department has assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken and that a full health report will be released in due course.
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