South Africa: Hungry and Displaced - Thousands Moved to New Musina Repatriation Centre

Conditions have improved but facilities are inadequate and food in short supply

On Thursday, thousands of immigrants who were left stranded at the Musina showgrounds in Limpopo this week, are being transferred to a newly-established repatriation centre - Proefplaas Farm operation centre - about 20km outside the town.

Many complained of hunger after spending days waiting to be processed in order to leave through the Beitbridge Border Post. Some had relied on relatives and friends to buy food, while others tried to earn money by selling cigarettes, sweets and cooldrinks.

Richard Isa, who will return to Malawi to his wife and two children, started cutting people's hair for R10 or R20 to get money for food.