SA security checks delay repatriation of Zimbabweans

The Government says the return of Zimbabweans fleeing recent anti-immigration tensions in South Africa has been slowed by mandatory security screening conducted by South African authorities before returnees are allowed to cross the border.

The update comes amid reports that several Zimbabweans remain stranded at the Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria awaiting clearance to travel home.

The delays follow heightened anti-immigration protests in South Africa, where pressure groups had declared June 30, 2026, as the deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. The groups circulated messages and videos on social media urging migrants to leave voluntarily and threatened nationwide action if the South African government failed to tighten immigration enforcement.

The campaign prompted thousands of foreign nationals from across the region to head for border posts in an effort to leave before the deadline.

Providing an update on Zimbabwe's repatriation programme, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda said 3,624 Zimbabweans had been successfully repatriated as of June 29, although processing delays remained a major challenge.

"The Government wishes to give an update on the ongoing repatriation of our compatriots affected by the current disturbances in South Africa. As of June 29, 2026, approximately 3,624 of our nationals had been successfully repatriated and received back into the country," Soda said.

He explained that all returnees are first subjected to mandatory profiling by South African authorities before being permitted to leave.

"We must address the delays that some of our returnees have experienced. Current delays in the processing of returnees are a result of profiling requirements by the South African authorities," he said.

"This is a mandatory security procedure undertaken by the host country, which entails checking personal data against their national database to ensure returnees have no criminal issues in South Africa."

Soda said Zimbabweans remain under the jurisdiction of South African authorities until the screening process has been completed.

"Until this process is complete, our citizens remain under South African jurisdiction," he said.

He said President Emmerson Mnangagwa had directed Government departments to mobilise resources to ensure Zimbabweans wishing to return home were received safely and with dignity.

"His Excellency, President Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa has directed resources towards ensuring the safe and dignified return of every Zimbabwean who wishes to come back home."

"In compliance with this directive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made sure of the mobilisation of logistics for the repatriation of our affected nationals," Soda said.

He added that an inter-ministerial team had been deployed to Beitbridge Border Post to facilitate the processing of returnees and coordinate assistance on the ground.

Additional personnel have also been assigned to strengthen Zimbabwe's consular services and manage the growing number of citizens seeking assistance.

"The Government has also deployed additional manpower to assist with the administration of the repatriation process, ensuring that our consular services are adequately equipped to handle the scale of this operation," he said.

Acknowledging the concerns of affected Zimbabweans, Soda said authorities were working with their South African counterparts to resolve the bottlenecks.

"We understand the frustration and anxiety this causes, but we assure you that the Government of Zimbabwe is making every effort to navigate these bottlenecks."

"We are doing everything within our power to expedite the process and bring our people home as swiftly as possible," he said.

Zimbabwe has also introduced a number of reintegration measures for returning citizens, including free transport to their home provinces, school enrolment for returning children and customs concessions for eligible returnees bringing back household goods, business equipment and motor vehicles.