Normal operations have resumed at the Epping Refugee Reception Office after the Department of Home Affairs concluded its temporary voluntary repatriation programme that transformed the facility into a processing centre for thousands of foreign nationals seeking to return to their home countries.
The office reopened for its regular Home Affairs services yesterday (6 July) after more than 3 200 Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals were processed and transferred to the Musina Repatriation Centre in Limpopo.
At the height of the operation, more than 2 000 Zimbabwean nationals relocated from outside the Zimbabwean Consulate in District Six and were housed at the Epping facility, as authorities processed voluntary repatriation requests ahead of anti-immigration protests planned for Tuesday 30 June.
The department said in a press statement approximately 1 800 Zimbabwean nationals, including women and children, arrived at the Epping Refugee Reception Office on Sunday 21 June.
They were later joined by Malawian nationals who also requested voluntary repatriation.
“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,” read the statement.
The department urged foreign nationals requiring assistance to engage directly with their respective embassies or consulates and to utilise normal immigration processes administered by the Department of Home Affairs.
Premier Alan Winde expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the operation, saying their efforts helped prevent unrest in the province.
“We are deeply grateful to every individual and organisation that played a role in ensuring a safe, dignified and orderly process. I also want to thank our mediators who worked hard to defuse tensions.
“You played an important part in ensuring unrest did not erupt in our province. I am also deeply grateful for the engagements our International Relations Directorate initiated with affected foreign missions.”
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