DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — The eThekwini municipality in Durban is working around the clock to manage a growing humanitarian crisis as thousands of Malawian nationals flock to Sherwood Hall for refuge. With the number of displaced individuals already estimated at 10,000 and expected to rise to 13,000, local authorities are expediting repatriation efforts to alleviate severe overcrowding and health concerns at the facility.
eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba provided a comprehensive update on the situation, noting that the influx at Sherwood Hall has surged over the past two weeks. This mass movement follows escalating tensions and protests directed at undocumented foreign nationals in the region. Mayor Xaba highlighted the severity of the displacement, confirming that the High Commission of Malawi reported over 1,700 of its citizens fled overnight from Pietermaritzburg to Durban out of safety concerns. This specific exodus was triggered by a recent attack at the Joe informal settlement, which police confirmed resulted in the death of a foreign national.
To address the overcrowding and mitigate the severe health and safety risks at the primary shelter, officials have shifted their logistical strategy. Government authorities, in collaboration with the Malawian government, have successfully processed more than 4,000 Malawian foreign nationals for expatriation and return. Highlighting a significant improvement in the pace of returns, Mayor Xaba noted that the process has officially transitioned from formal deportation to repatriation, a procedural shift that offers several logistical advantages for moving people quickly.
The logistical operation is massive, requiring immense effort from officials who have been working tirelessly without rest to ensure safe returns. More than 30 buses have already completed the grueling 30-hour road journey from Durban to Malawi. Demonstrating the accelerated pace of the new repatriation strategy, eight buses were dispatched in a single day, carrying 784 individuals back to their home country.
To further manage the swelling numbers at Sherwood Hall, the city has opened a secondary relocation site. Officials emphasized that vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, are being prioritized during the relocation and repatriation processes.
The ongoing crisis has also impacted local civic processes in the area. The electoral commission was forced to relocate its voting station from Sherwood Hall to an alternative venue to ensure the voter registration weekend could proceed safely and without disruption.
