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The Department of Home Affairs has successfully transferred foreign nationals who requested voluntary repatriation from the Epping Refugee Reception Office in the Western Cape to the Musina Repatriation Centre in Limpopo over the weekend. 

Approximately 1 800 Zimbabwean nationals, including women and children, arrived at the Epping Refugee Reception Office on 21 June 2026. They were later joined by Malawian nationals who also requested voluntary repatriation. In total, 3 252 individuals were processed, comprising 3 155 Zimbabwean nationals and 97 Malawian nationals. 

Following coordinated efforts by the Department of Home Affairs, the City of Cape Town, civil society and faith-based organisations to facilitate the transfer of those requesting voluntary repatriation, the temporary operation at the Epping Refugee Reception Office concluded. All humanitarian assistance at the site was concluded at 06h00 on Sunday, 5 July 2026. 

The temporary voluntary repatriation support operation at the Epping Refugee Reception Office has now concluded, and the office resumed its normal operations on Monday, 6 July 2026. Foreign nationals seeking voluntary repatriation should no longer report to the Epping Refugee Reception Office. Requests for voluntary repatriation should now be directed to the relevant consulate for assistance. 

Issued by Department of Home Affairs