Zimbabwe sends buses to Cape Town, Johannesburg

Thousands of Zimbabweans are making their way home from South Africa after the Government deployed hundreds of buses to transport citizens from processing centres in Cape Town, Johannesburg and other cities amid ongoing anti-immigration tensions.

The returnees are among those who sought refuge at Zimbabwean consulates and designated safety centres following renewed anti-immigration protests targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.

Before travelling home, the returnees are undergoing processing by South African authorities in Cape Town and Johannesburg before being transported to Zimbabwe through Beitbridge Border Post.

In an update, the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) said the repatriation exercise was progressing in phases.

"Three buses with returnees have left Cape Town for the Beitbridge Border Post. A further two buses left Cape Town for Johannesburg for speedier processing of returnees," the OPC said.

"Once processed, the buses will make their way to the Beitbridge Border Post."

The OPC said about 1,000 Zimbabweans remained at the Epping Repatriation Centre in Cape Town awaiting completion of processing before they could begin the journey home.

"Epping Repatriation Centre still has some 1,000 Zimbabweans who will be ferried home once their processing is complete. Buses are already available for the purpose," the statement said.

Additional buses have also been deployed to Zimbabwe's diplomatic missions in South Africa to transport returnees as soon as they complete the required procedures.

"Eleven buses are on standby at Zimbabwe's Old Chancery where 600 Zimbabweans are being processed pending their departure for Zimbabwe soon after," the OPC said.

"Five more buses are stationed at Power House in Johannesburg where a further 300 Zimbabweans are being processed."

The repatriation follows weeks of heightened anti-immigration demonstrations in South Africa, where vigilante groups have been demanding the removal of undocumented foreign nationals.

Among the groups associated with the campaign are March and March, Operation Dudula activists, Phakelumthakathi and supporters of former South African president Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, all of whom backed calls for undocumented migrants to leave the country by June 30.

The campaign has heightened anxiety among migrant communities, prompting thousands of foreign nationals from across the region to seek assistance to return to their home countries.

Zimbabwean authorities have since rolled out a nationwide reintegration programme that includes free transport from Beitbridge Border Post to home provinces, school enrolment for returning children and customs concessions for eligible returnees bringing back household goods, business equipment and motor vehicles.