Seven Buses Wait at Beitbridge After 8,230 Migrants Processed Day Earlier

Passengers on seven buses waited on the pavement at the Beitbridge border post on 26 June 2026 after arriving from South African cities. One bus headed to Zimbabwe and six to Malawi. By 10am the drivers had disappeared and no officials provided updates on processing.

Nyasha, who gave only his first name, said his bus reached the post at 5am from Durban. He had lived in Durban for two years and left after fearing for his life. He said the last meal he ate was KFC provided by well-wishers.

A 25-year-old father interviewed at the Dulibadzimu bus rank said he had lived in Rustenburg for five years before moving to Limpopo. He observed groups in Thohoyandou mobilising South Africans against foreigners and was traveling with his family to Dema outside Harare.

AllAfrica reported that the Border Management Authority processed 6,709 Malawians on 112 buses and 1,521 Zimbabweans on 26 buses on 25 June.

Seventeen buses arrived without required Emergency Travel Certificates and were sent to the Musina truck stop. The authority stated that a significant number of buses lack cross-border permits and that some drivers did not have passports. It requires voluntary repatriation migrants to complete Home Affairs verification and police clearances at the Musina Refugee Reception Centre before reaching Beitbridge.