The plight of Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa around the border town of Musina has become "quite desperate", government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Wednesday.

The department of home affairs was now investigating the establishment of "transit camps" in the area to deal with the problem, he told a media briefing in Pretoria following Cabinet's fortnightly meeting earlier in the day.

"The situation in Musina is getting quite desperate. The conditions under which the Zimbabwean nationals are living in that part of the country is something that's of grave concern to us."

Responding to a question, he acknowledged this was a change of policy on the part of government, which up to now had been opposed to the establishment of camps for refugees

Cabinet was now saying that because of the deteriorating situation it might be necessary to review that policy.

"Home affairs has been given the mandate to actually look at this matter once again... and make a proposal on whether policy needs to be changed to set up... transition camps."

Once the proposal was received, Cabinet would respond.

"In the meantime, government will continue to work with the non-governmental organisations to address the plight of Zimbabwean nationals," Maseko said.