South Africa to Relocate Refugee Centres to Border Entry Points

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to relocate refugee reception centres to border posts in phases to improve efficiency and security in the migration system. He said the move will speed up asylum processing and align the country with international practices. He also called for regional cooperation through SADC and the African Union to address migration challenges, warning about links between illegal migration and organized crime while pledging stronger border security and better protection for migrant workers.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a major overhaul of the country’s migration system, confirming that refugee reception centres will be relocated to border posts in phased stages starting later this year.
Speaking during a national address on migration, Ramaphosa said the first phase will begin with the Tshwane refugee reception centre before other facilities are gradually moved closer to entry points across the country. He explained that the reform is aimed at aligning South Africa with international best practices, where asylum seekers are processed at or near the borders where they first enter a country, rather than far inland.
According to him, the new system is intended to improve efficiency, strengthen security, and ensure that asylum applications are handled more quickly and fairly. Authorities believe that relocating the centres will reduce delays in processing claims, limit irregular movement within the country, and improve the government’s ability to manage migration flows in a more controlled and transparent manner.
Ramaphosa emphasized that migration is not only a national issue but a regional one, stressing that South Africa cannot manage the pressures alone. He called for deeper cooperation with neighboring states and regional bodies, particularly the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, to develop long-term and sustainable solutions. He also said South Africa will deploy envoys to several African countries to engage governments directly on the new policy direction and strengthen cooperation on migration management.
The president also raised concerns about the growing link between illegal migration and organized crime. He warned that criminal networks are increasingly exploiting undocumented migration routes to recruit vulnerable individuals and facilitate activities such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, extortion, and other forms of cross-border crime. He said this trend poses a serious threat to national security and regional stability.
In addition, Ramaphosa highlighted the exploitation faced by many undocumented migrants within South Africa. He noted that some are subjected to harsh working conditions, including very low wages, excessively long hours, and lack of legal protection. He argued that improving migration enforcement and formalizing processes would help reduce abuse and protect vulnerable workers from exploitation.
The government also plans to strengthen border control systems through increased investment in surveillance technology, improved infrastructure, and additional security personnel. However, Ramaphosa stressed that these measures must be balanced carefully to avoid disrupting legitimate economic activity, including trade, tourism, and lawful cross-border movement, which are vital to South Africa’s economy and regional integration.
Overall, the proposed reforms signal one of the most significant shifts in South Africa’s migration policy in recent years, with the government positioning the changes as both a security response and a step toward more orderly and humane migration management.