South Africa is reducing the scale of its border repatriation operations as official figures show a decline in migration rates.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration confirmed that more than 68,000 foreign nationals have been processed for repatriation or deportation since June, prompting the government to begin scaling down activities at the Musina Temporary Holding Facility.
The decision to wind down operations at Musina follows a period of intensified enforcement along the northern border.
The closure of the Epping Refugee Reception Centre in Cape Town earlier this year marked a significant shift in the country's approach to asylum seekers, with thousands returned to their home countries in a mass operation.
The current scaling back at Musina suggests the government views the immediate pressure on border infrastructure as having eased.
The repatriation drive has been part of a broader effort to manage irregular migration, with specific focus on nationals from neighboring countries.