DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL – The ongoing influx of migrants in Durban continues to present complex logistical and humanitarian challenges as a growing number of Malawian nationals gather at a central drive-in site. A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that officials are in active discussions to manage the situation, ensuring that proper verification procedures are followed despite the tedious nature of the process.
The verification procedure is a multi-step operation that begins with the South African Police Service (SAPS), transitions to the Department of Home Affairs, and concludes with Malawian officials. According to the spokesperson, managing the continuous arrival of migrants remains one of their most significant challenges. Following recent meetings with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster ministers, officials indicated that they cannot physically stop the migrants from arriving.
The rationale is rooted in safety and liability. The spokesperson explained that if individuals are turned away and subsequently harmed or killed outside the government’s designated area, the state would still bear the responsibility. Furthermore, authorities are grappling with the misconception that the Durban facility is a designated repatriation site for the entire country, prompting every other province to direct migrants to the location.
In response to on-the-ground realities, the department has officially abandoned the deportation process in favor of voluntary repatriation. The spokesperson detailed that the deportation process was halted during operations at the previous Sherwood site. During that phase, migrants attacked officials because they mistakenly believed they were being arrested. Since the migrants had voluntarily presented themselves, they felt the arrests were unjust. Consequently, the department re-evaluated its approach and secured a legal waiver to cease deportations, focusing exclusively on the repatriation route.
The physical management of the current drive-in site in Durban Central adds another layer of complexity. The spokesperson noted that the facility is essentially controlled by a group of business people who donated the space, meaning government officials do not have absolute control over the premises. Migrants continue to camp outside the site, with some even hiring private vehicles to reach the location. While officials process individuals during the day and leave in the evening, the migrants remain outside. However, by morning, they are relocated inside the facility through arrangements made by the site’s management.
Despite the logistical hurdles, the repatriation effort is yielding significant results. On Wednesday alone, at least eight buses departed for Malawi after officials cleared the crowd that had been stationed along Argyle Road. To date, more than 8,000 Malawian nationals have successfully left the Durban site to return to their home country.
To assist with the transport logistics, the humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers has committed buses to the Malawian government. Meanwhile, authorities have issued a public plea for additional sponsors to come forward and support the ongoing repatriation efforts.
